Helen O’Shea and Barry Murphy honour Dolores O’Riordan with ‘Rock and Roll Angel’

Limerick Artists Helen O’Shea and Barry Murphy (Hermitage Green) Honour Dolores O’Riordan in Single “Rock and Roll Angel”

Limerick-born, New-Jersey-based roots artist Helen O’Shea and Hermitage Green’s Barry Murphy pay tribute to Dolores O’Riordan, on what would soon have been her 53rd Birthday on September 6

Penned in honour of The Cranberries’ frontwoman for O’Shea’s forthcoming album, “Songs in the Key of O”, with producer/co-writer and two-time Grammy winner Marc Swersky, O’Shea enlisted the talented Barry Murphy – lead singer of fellow Limerick act Hermitage Green – to join her on this special tribute with his stunning vocal and dulcet tones.

A star who burned brightly for a tragically short time, Dolores O’Riordan brought much beauty to the hometown she shared with O’Shea, through her singing and her songwriting, representing the county with pride before her tragic passing in 2018.

Taken from O’Shea’s upcoming March 2026 album “Songs in the Key of O”, a tribute to Dolores O’Riordan and Sinead O’Connor, the single features Andrew Carillo (Joan Osbourne, James Maddock), Rob Clores (The Black Crowes, Jesse Malin), Aaron Comess (Spin Doctors), Nathan Bishop, Nicole Scorsone, Brielle Brown, Michelle Moore (Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – E Street Choir) and Lauren O’Shea, who join an allstar list of collaborators on the highly anticipated album, which was engineered by Jack Daley (Spin Doctors), mixed by Seth Von Paulus (Linda Perry) and mastered by Leon Zervos.

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On the collaboration with O’Shea, Hermitage Green vocalist Barry Murphy said, “It was such a pleasure to sing on this beautifully written and produced song for Dolores, an icon of Limerick and Irish music.

“From the first moment I spoke to Helen about the song it was so clear to me she had a deep love for our home town and for writing stories about the places and the people who inspired her. That’s something I always tried to do with my music and it was an honour to be asked to add my own voice to this song. A massive thank you to Helen and Marc for involving me in this project and for their passion and guidance”

With the heart of a healer and the grace of grit, Ireland-born, New Jersey-based artist Helen O’Shea is trailblazing a path of hope and possibility, sharing her unguarded story so that others may step fully into their power.

Helen’s journey from medicine to motherhood to music embodies resilience, reinvention, and the power of learning to heal. Blending Americana and Celtic influences into her signature sound, which she calls AmeriCeltiCana, her music and message resonate deeply with women and mothers rediscovering themselves later in life.

Through Helen’s metamorphosis, she holds fiercely to her personal mantra, Turning Tides Make Sturdy Souls, reflecting her belief that life’s challenges—both joyful and painful—are what shape us. Embracing transformation takes courage, and through her music, Helen extends a hand, reminding us that we don’t have to take the first step alone.

Barry Murphy is best known as the bassist and vocalist of Hermitage Green, the celebrated acoustic folk‑rock band from Limerick. A former Munster rugby player whose sporting career ended in 2011 due to injury, Barry pivoted to music and co-founded Hermitage Green in July 2010 alongside his brother Dan Murphy, Darragh Griffin, Darragh Graham and Dermot Sheedy. One of the band’s leading songwriters, he is known for his poetic lyricism in songs like “Lake Winnipesaukee”, “Make it better” and “Drifting”.