The Cranberries Biography: Members, Age, Songs, Albums, Death, Nationality, Disbanded

The Cranberries were an Irish alternative rock band whose music combined emotional intensity, melodic hooks, and a unique voice.

Emerging from Limerick in 1989, they rose to worldwide fame in the 1990s with songs like Linger, Dreams, and Zombie.

Their sound bridged indie, folk, post-punk, and pop elements, led by the unforgettable vocals of Dolores O’Riordan.

Their career had periods of both intense success and painful loss, yet their legacy endures as one of the most beloved bands to emerge from Ireland.

Early Life & Members

Dolores Mary Eileen O’Riordan

Date of Birth: 6 September 1971, Born in Ballybricken, County Limerick, Ireland. Youngest of nine children (two of whom died in infancy).

Her father, Terence “Terry” O’Riordan, suffered brain damage from a motorcycle accident before she was born; her mother, Eileen, worked as a school caterer.

Raised in a devout Roman Catholic family. She started singing in her church choir as a child, playing traditional Irish music and the tin whistle.

Noel Anthony Hogan

• Date of Birth: 25 December 1971
• Born in Moyross, Limerick.
• Guitarist and co-songwriter for the band.

Michael “Mike” Hogan

• Date of Birth: 29 April 1973
• Younger brother of Noel.
• Plays bass.

Fergal Lawler

He is a drummer from Limerick and joined with the Hogan brothers early on before O’Riordan.

Formation

In the mid-1980s, Noel Hogan, Mike Hogan, and Fergal Lawler, all teenagers in Limerick, shared a common interest in rock and alternative music.

They played together, experimented with instruments, and sought a singer.

Initially, Niall Quinn filled the role of vocalist under the band name The Cranberry Saw Us, but he left in 1990.

Through connections, they met Dolores O’Riordan, who auditioned and immediately meshed with their vision.

Her arrival transformed the group, and the name was shortened to The Cranberries.

Career

1992-1995: Breakthrough:

Their debut studio album Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? came in 1993 with hit singles like Linger and Dreams.

The follow-up, No Need to Argue (1994), included Zombie, which became a global anthem.

1996-2001: Growth & Struggles:

Albums such as To the Faithful Departed (1996) and Bury the Hatchet (1999) showcased both their ambition and the strains fame imposed.

They toured heavily, and while many songs resonated with listeners, Dolores also faced personal challenges during this period.

2003-2009: Hiatus and Reunion:

After Wake Up and Smell the Coffee (2001), the band took a break.

Dolores pursued solo work, the Hogans delved into side-projects (e.g. Noel with Mono Band and Arkitekt), and by 2009, The Cranberries reunited with renewed energy.

2010s & Final Years:

Their later albums, especially Roses (2012) and Something Else (2017), showed maturity, revisiting their classics in new forms and experimenting with acoustic arrangements.

After Dolores’ unexpected death in January 2018, the remaining members completed a final album In the End (2019), using her existing vocal recordings.

Personal Lives & Relationships

Dolores O’Riordan:

Marriage & Children: On 18 July 1994, she married Don Burton, former tour manager of Duran Duran.

They had three children: Taylor Baxter (born November 1997), Molly Leigh (born January 2001), and Dakota Rain (born April 2005). She also had a stepson from Burton’s previous relationship.

Later Relationship: Around 2015–2018 she was in a relationship with musician Olé Koretsky.

Health & Challenges: In 2015, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She also spoke publicly about childhood sexual abuse (ages 8-12), as well as other struggles with mental health, including depression and episodes of emotional difficulty.

Death: 15 January 2018 in London; died accidentally from drowning after sedation by alcohol intoxication.

Noel Hogan

• Relationship: Married to Catherine Nash since 8 July 1996.
• They have two children.

Mike Hogan

• Spouse: Married to Siobhán since 6 July 1998.
• They have two children.

Fergal Lawler

Public details about his personal relationships are less widely documented.

What is known is that he shared with the other members a strong bond of friendship and musical collaboration from their teenage years in Limerick.

Net Worth

The Cranberries have sold approximately 40-50 million albums globally.

Their influence goes beyond sales: they brought Irish alternative rock to mainstream international attention.

Their songs like Zombie remain staples of 1990s rock and are still widely listened to.

They received numerous awards and recognitions, including MTV Europe Music Awards, Ivor Novello Awards, and others.

Their music videos and catalog remain widely streamed.

Discography

Studio Albums

• Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? (1993)
• No Need to Argue (1994)
• To the Faithful Departed (1996)
• Bury the Hatchet (1999)
• Wake Up and Smell the Coffee (2001)
• Roses (2012)
• Something Else (2017)
• In the End (2019)

Singles

• Linger
• Dreams
• Zombie
• Ode to My Family
• Free to Decide