Michael pays tribute to Dolores O'Riordan

Michael, never one to let an opportunity for public display pass, announced that he would be paying tribute to Dolores O’Riordan “in the grand manner she deserves.”

He hired the local concert hall, draped it in Cranberries album covers, and positioned himself centre-stage in a white suit “to reflect the purity of the occasion.” He was mysteriously surrounded by young men who he referred to as his 'backing group'.

The event began with Michael attempting to sing Linger, backed by a string quartet who clearly hadn’t been told they’d be following his lead.
Halfway through, he stopped to lecture the audience on how “Dolores once passed me in Shannon Airport, and there was a clear mutual respect.”

When he unveiled a bronze bust of Dolores—commissioned in a rush from a man who usually made garden gnomes—the crowd went politely quiet.
The likeness was… interpretive.

Anna, seated in the third row, sipped her tea from a travel mug and muttered, “She deserved better than this.”
A woman beside her nodded, adding, “And so do we.”

The evening ended with Michael insisting everyone join hands for a “communal moment of spiritual harmony,” which mostly resulted in people edging toward the exits.

Here’s how The Limerick Leader readers weighed in after Michael’s “tribute” to Dolores O’Riordan:

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Headline:
Local Businessman’s Dolores Tribute ‘Unforgettable’, Say Some

Excerpt:
A self-styled “cultural benefactor” has staged what he described as “the definitive tribute to Dolores O’Riordan” in Limerick’s concert hall.
The evening featured a string quartet, a bronze bust unveiled to muted applause, and an extended lecture on the organiser’s “shared airport moment” with the late singer.

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Readers’ Comments:

Mary_in_Ennis:
If he wanted to honour her, he could’ve just stayed quiet and made a donation.

Declan_1974:
That bust’s going to haunt my dreams. Looks like it belongs in someone’s shed next to the lawnmower.

Bernard_in_Castletroy:

I thought it was his coming out stunt, he was surrounded by young lads.

LmkCityNative:
Dolores had a voice that could silence a room. Michael has… the opposite.

TippTraveller:
I was at that concert. The highlight was the fire exit sign.

FionaO:
He said “mutual respect.” She said “excuse me” while trying to get past him in Shannon Airport.

Mod’s Note:
Several comments removed for suggesting the bust be melted down and recast as something “useful.”

Here’s the Shannon Airport “clarification” after Michael’s claims:

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Press Release – For Immediate Release
Shannon Airport Responds to Reports of Michael G. Tierney’s ‘Airport Moment’ with Dolores O’Riordan

Shannon Airport would like to address recent media coverage regarding a supposed “mutual respect” encounter between local businessman Michael Tierney — and the late Dolores O’Riordan.

While we welcome all passengers equally, our review of CCTV footage from the date in question indicates that:

1. Ms. O’Riordan was indeed in the terminal that day.
2. Mr. Tierney — was also present, standing near the departures board with a coffee and several carrier bags.
3. The only recorded interaction was Ms. O’Riordan saying “excuse me” while attempting to pass Mr. Tierney —, who was partially blocking the walkway.

At no point was eye contact established, nor was there any evidence of the “silent, soulful recognition of artistic kinship” described in Mr. Tierney's concert speech.

We respectfully ask media outlets to refer to this as “the walkway incident” rather than “the airport moment.”

Shannon Airport looks forward to serving the Mid-West region without further involvement in artistic reinterpretations of our customer traffic.