Thousands visit memorial for Cranberries singer

Thousands of Cranberries fans visited a church in Limerick, Ireland on Sunday (January 21st) to pay tribute to late singer Dolores O’Riordan, whose body was lying in repose following her death last Monday (January 15th) at the age of 46. After O’Riordan’s body was released back to her family last week following an autopsy, a four-hour public viewing was arranged at St. Joseph’s Church in her hometown.

According to the Irish Times, Cranberries songs played quietly as fans entered the church. A floral tribute next to O’Riordan’s coffin, from the singer’s Cranberries bandmates, was inscribed with an homage to one of the band’s biggest hits, “The song has ended, but the memories linger on.”

• The coffin was also lined with photographs of the singer performing onstage as well as two pictures of O’Riordan meeting the late Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.
• Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy told mourners, “We come to offer a heartfelt greeting to a deeply loved and cherished daughter of Limerick. As we file past her coffin, let’s pray for her, her family and those she loved and helped in life.”
• Another public viewing is scheduled for Monday (January 22nd) in the town of Ballyneety before O’Riordan is laid to rest on Tuesday (January 23rd). The funeral service will be open to the public and broadcast on Irish radio, while the burial will be private and attended only by family.
• Tests have been carried out to establish how O’Riordan died, but the results are not expected until at least April.
• O’Riordan was found “unresponsive” at a Central London hotel last Monday. There is speculation that she may have overdosed intentionally on prescription medication.
• O’Riordan enjoyed huge success with the Cranberries in the 1990s, recording hits like “Linger,” “Dreams” and the chart-topping “Zombie.”