Limerick artist pays tribute to Dolores O'Riordan with new music

LIMERICK artist Helen O’Shea has released a single in tribute to Dolores O’Riordan.

The track Lost was released to coincide with the eighth anniversary of Dolores’ death. 

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She vividly recalls when her brother Steve was in college in Limerick that he came home with a mixtape, which included Linger by The Cranberries.

She says that the voice of Dolores left a lasting impact on her. 

“Dolores was living the singing dream that I longed for, and with a voice unlike any other.”

Born in Limerick and now based in New Jersey, Helen blends Americana and Celtic influences to create a signature sound. 

She says that her music resonates deeply with women and mothers who are “rediscovering themselves later in life.” 

Helen believes that all of life’s experiences, whether joyful or painful “are what shape us.”

She says that embracing transformation and change takes courage and through her music, she sees herself as extending a hand and reminding people that they don’t have to take that first step towards transformation alone. 

Before she went into the world of music, Helen worked as an obstetrician gynaecologist and also spent a number of years teaching in Canada and became a leader in the world of perinatal research and medical education.

It wasn’t until her children found a move to the US in 2011 difficult and asked her to leave medicine and be at home when they got home from school, that her life took a turn towards music. 

“Two days into my new life, without my lifelong identity as Dr Helen McNamara, I began to settle into life as housewife Helen O'Shea, with great difficulty. It was then that my husband said ‘You've always wanted to sing - this is your chance.’” 

She quickly rediscovered a passion for music and in 2024 earned nominations for the Josie Awards and the international singer songwriter award for best duo with Alexander Simone. 

Helen will release a single Last Day of Our Acquaintance featuring Australian golden guitar award-winning artist Brad Butcher, on February 20, to honour Sinéad O’Connor. 

Her new album Songs in the Key of O is what she describes as a “love letter” to two of her biggest influences, Sinéad O’Connor and Dolores O'Riordan. The album comes out on May 1, later this year.