People of Limerick pay tribute to ‘an ordinary person’ who never forgot her roots in the city
LIMERICK city was subdued yesterday as stunned locals gathered to remember one of their own.
At Limerick Council buildings, hundreds queued to pay their tribute to the world famous singer who had never forgot her roots.
Those who knew her and those who just loved her music gathered to sign the book of condolence, thinking mostly of her three children and her mother. And the unified message they sent was that Dolores was Limerick and she had done the city proud.
Many of those who came were unable to hide their emotion. With voices catching and tears welling in their eyes they told why it was important for them to remember Dolores.
“She was a Limerick girl. She was when she started and she was throughout her life. All the fame never changed her and we just loved her,” said one local.
Michael O’Dwyer, who knows the O’Riordan family, said he had been stunned to hear the news of her sudden death.
“I was out cycling and it came on the news through my headphones. I just had to stop,” he said.
Michael, who had worked with Dolores over the years, added: “I talked to her two brothers last night. The whole family is just shattered.
“Dolores was such an icon but she was really just such a lovely person. She was incredibly nice, lovely company and she was always so charming. It is very hard to make it in this world and still be an ordinary person and a world icon.” Aedin Ni Bhriain, principal of Dolores’ old school, Laurel Hill Colaiste, also paid tribute to the much-loved past pupil.
“We came primarily to express our sympathy to her family because it’s such a sad loss for them and also to show our deep love for everything she did and everything she achieved,” she said.
“She was a lover of music during her six years with us and she continued that all through her life and we’re very proud of her as a past pupil. And we’re also proud of the fact that she’s a Limerick woman who never forgot she was a Limerick woman, kept the links with Limerick even when she was abroad.”
Local man Sean Shinner recalled meeting Dolores back in the early ‘90s when she had just written Linger.
“She was just a slip of a thing. She had come into the restaurant where I was a chef. She was just so lovely. She signed a napkin for me and she introduced me to her mother.
“All through the years she never changed.
“She was a part of this city, I just wanted to come down and say goodbye to a Limerick girl from a grateful Limerick man,” he added.