Dundalk musicians on Dreams

Two Dundalk musicians feature on all female line-up who came together to make a charity record for Safe Ireland while in lockdown.

Caroline Corr and Aoife Dennedy are among the 39 artists who answered the call to record The Cranberries hit ‘Dreams’ with all proceeds going to Safe Ireland which works to end domestic abuse and coercive control.

The single came about thanks to the efforts of Dublin songwriter and musician Ruth-Anne Cunningham who decided to use her talents and considerable contact book to raise money for the charity and to highlight the wealth of talent there is among Irish female artists.

She first got in touch with pop acts Aimée and Soulé, and soon had an impressive line-up which included Imelda May,

Una Healy, Lisa Hannigan, as well as indie-rock band Pillow Queens, trad singer Moya Brennan, R’n’B star Erica Cody and folk-pop band Wyvern Lingo.

Each act sang the song in their own home, some using professional recording equipment and others simply singing into their phones, and then Ruth-Anne pieced them all together.

Caroline Corr, who shot to worldwide fame with her siblings Jim, Sharon and Andrea back in the ‘90s and who has recorded her own album, was in Mallorca with her family.

Describing herself as a ‘ huge fan’ of the Cranberries, Caroline says she was delighted to get involved with the project because it shines spotlight on female talent. ‘I think when women get together and collaborate, it shows the power within themselves; that was another reason I was attracted to the project. So it shows the strength and power in women’s abilities - and also their musicianship, which can really get overlooked. Women really have to stand out at times to be noticed. When I was drumming, there was some amazing female drummers out there. But I always felt a little bit more scrutinised because I was a female. And I think a lot of women feel that, especially in a male-dominated world. So it’s been wonderful.’

Aoife Dennedy is one of the musicians who contributed to the track. Aoife is a cello tutor with Music Generation Louth and a member of the Leinster String Quartet

Support the ‘Dreams’ by Irish Women in Harmony by streaming the single or by donating €4 by text SAFE to 50300.