THE CRANBERRIES HONOURED WITH DOCTORATE OF LETTERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK.
A very tough week passes by leaving a halo of light and hope to those of us still struggling to come to terms with Dolores’ untimely passing: Today, January 18th 2019, Dolores O’Riordan and her band-mates Noel Hogan, Mike Hogan and Fergal Lawler have been presented with Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Limerick.
Eileen O’Riordan, Dolores’ mother, attended the ceremony with her family and was presented with a special posthumous Honorary Doctorate of Letters for Dolores. She said Dolores would be so proud to receive such an honour from her hometown “It would mean so much to her. No matter where she travelled or lived, her heart was always in Limerick and would take any opportunity to return and spend time here with her family, friends and band members.” We know well Dolores’ heart belonged in here and it was in the green countryside of Limerick where she felt the happiest and found the peace she was always longing for, where she could disconnect and get lost to find herself, forget for a moment that she was a rockstar and be able to be just “Dolores”.
Noel Hogan said it was a day of “mixed” emotions to return to the UL campus, where they had started in their earliest beginnings. “It’s nearly come full circle, nearing the end of The Cranberries career now and we’re back here under very different circumstances. It feels like 30 years of hard work has brought us to this moment.”
This Honorary Doctorate was first presented to them about four years ago, and the University had planned to present them with these doctorates in April 2017, but there were band rehearsals and promotional appearances at that time and they were not available to receive the awards. It was not until today that they would have been presented with them, but Dolores was very aware of this recognition. “I remember her (Dolores) telling her brothers who had different degrees that she was going to be more qualified than they were! That was her personality you know, so I think she’d really, really be loving this today.”
Eileen O’Riordan said Dolores loved Limerick more than anywhere else and that she was very proud of her hometown, but she does not think she ever knew how much she was loved in Limerick. The love and support they have received in the form of tributes of all kinds have been a great comfort for the family in such trying times. “I just wish she was here but I’d say she is here with us today in spirit,” she added.
Fergal’s award was accepted by Noel on his behalf as he was unable to attend the ceremony this Friday.
News like this are received with an overwhelming emotion. Still shocked in disbelief and emotionally drained, it is the eternal love we feel for Dolores was help us keep going. Seeing our princess get the recognition she so well deserves, the great impact she had on so many people’s lives and how fondly she is remembered by many is a huge relief in times when it is much needed.
You can watch a very emotional video with of the ceremony on the link below:
Sources:
https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/358764/dolores-would-be-so-proud-the-cranberries-honoured-at-the-university-of-limerick.html
https://www.rte.ie/news/munster/2019/0118/1024063-cranberries-limerick/?fbclid=IwAR14YTNEi79FUXGSzhI8nX90KDZTuTtVDe3npFEqt0_kQvos-NFyYtLwPXg
