The Cranberries’ ‘Zombie’ named Ireland’s most popular song

‘Zombie’ surpasses other Irish classics to take the top spot “New York Fairy Tale” “The Boys Are Back in Town” by The Pogues Thin Lizzie when RTÉ 2FM’s Ultimate Irish Songs Playlist is To be broadcast in October 2022.

Written by Cranberries singer Dolores O’Riordan, “Zombies” It tells the story of the 1993 IRA bombing in Warrington, England, which killed two children.

The protest song condemned the violence used during the Troubles in Northern Ireland and told of a mother’s grief after her innocent child was killed in a bombing.

O’RiordanShe, who died in 2018, wrote the powerful lyrics after she said in an interview that she wanted to distance herself from a small minority of Irish people who used violent means to achieve a united Ireland, leading to the famous “this isn’t me, this isn’t my family” lyrics.

O’Riordan was disgusted by the bombers’ claim that they were carrying out their acts of terrorism in the name of Ireland. Although the song was written specifically about the Troubles in Northern Ireland, it resonated with anti-war protesters around the world.

On the night when Ireland’s favourite song was revealed, Girls Aloud star and Derry native Nadine Coyle gave a stirring and powerful rendition of the Cranberries’ much-loved 1994 hit.

The Ultimate Irish Playlist also features performances from Hothouse Flowers, B*Witched, Bagatelle, Nathan Carter, The Stunning, Sharon Shannon and Mundy, as well as many more well-known and well-loved musicians and artists.

B*witchcraft Comment They were delighted to discover that their catchy song ‘That’s Life’ had been included on the Ultimate Irish Playlist.

It was a huge feat for an Irish band, and twin sisters Edele and Keavy Lynch, Lindsay Armaou and Sinéad O’Carroll recall how the song helped them break into the American market.

“If someone had told me 24 years ago that ‘C’est la Vie’ would still be played in clubs and on the radio, I don’t think I would have believed them,” Amawu said.

The Ultimate Irish Playlist as voted for by RTÉ 2fm listeners:

1. The Cranberries – Zombie
2. The Pogues – A New York Fairy Tale
3. Thin Lizzy-The Boys Are Back In Town
4. Saw Doctor – N17
5. Aslan – Crazy World
6. U2 – Streets with no names
7. Sinéad O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U
8. The Undertones-Teenage Kicks Band
9. Little Things – Dublin Summer
10. Mark McCabe – Crazy 2000
11. Stunning – Brewing Storm
12. Sharon Shannon, Mundy – Galway Girls
13. Snow Patrol – Car Chase
14. Westlife – A World of Our Own
15. Hozier-Take Me to Church
16. Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Girl
17. Christy Moore – Cycling
18. Put pressure on them
19. B*Witched-That’s Life
20. Flowers in the greenhouse – Don’t go

* Originally published in 2022, updated in August 2023.