The Hot Press Book on The Cranberries and Dolores O’Riordan – titled Why Can’t We? – has sold out in Limerick. The news reflects the huge interest which we are seeing in what is a very special book, which–, for the first time – tells the story of one of Ireland’s greatest and most important rock bands ever, both from the pages of Hot Press and via a series of special, exclusive new interviews with key individuals that are published for the first time.

The book, which comes in two formats, is curated by Stuart Clark, Deputy Editor of Hot Press. Stuart was based in Limerick when he wrote the first ever press release for the fledgling band – then called The Cranberry Saw Us – for which he was paid a bottle of Jack Daniels.

The Large Format Limited Edition Platinum Issue, signed by the band and by Eileen O’Riordan on behalf of Dolores is available only directly from Hot Press here.

The sell-out in Limerick is just one measure of the intense public interest in the book. It has been getting rave reviews from customers who purchased it in advance, from the Hot Press shop, on hotpress.com. The book is exclusively available in retail in Dubray Books in Bray, Cork and Galway as well as in their shops across Dublin – including the hugely busy Grafton Street outlet. It is also available in O’Mahony’s in Limerick. For those who are searching for the book in the Cranberries hometown, a fresh supply is already winging its way to the capital of the South-West.

Among those interviewed specially for the book are Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran, Michael Stipe of REM, producer extraordinaire Stephen Street, Andy Rourke of The Smiths and D.A.R.K., Dolores O'Riordan’s boyfriend at the time of her death Ole Koretsky and her mother, Eileen O’Riordan.

“The reaction to the book has been amazing,” Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said. “From the very start, people loved The Cranberries in a very special way. And, of courser, a lot of them fell in love with Dolores O’Riordan out front. As well as being a brilliant singer she was such a special person. It meant that fans developed a unique loyalty – which is what we are seeing in the response to Why Can’t We? We wanted to create an absolutely beautiful book that would capture the spirit of the band, and what made them so well and so widely over.

"I received the book today and in a word ‘outstanding’. Just a superb production. Thank you & congrats to all involved,” one purchaser said.

”Just received the Cranberries book,” another added. “It looks a million dollars. BIG congratulations.

"It is a tour-de-force,” Cranberries expert Eoin Devereaux of UL said. "A must-have for all fans of The Cranberries. Really high production values, really interesting new material and fab memorabilia."

"Thanks @hotpress," Tweetle Stupido (a splendid handle!) said. "Santa came early. @The_Cranberries book is now under my tree."

Thanks @hotpress . Santa came early. @The_Cranberries book is now under my tree.

— Tweetledumber (@Tweetledumber1) December 14, 2021

"You have all done justice to #dolores and produced a superb book,” Mike at KM Financial said. "both in writing quality and production quality. So excited to get it… An absolute tour de force of a book, the memories it’s bringing back of different times through those articles is brilliant."

"A must-have item for any fan,” Windmill Lane Studios added. "Congratulations to all involved."

Why Can’t We? The story of @The_Cranberries & the band’s iconic frontwoman Dolores O’Riordan.
A @hotpress publication, this deluxe limited edition book is curated by @stuartclark66 A must-have item for any fan. Congratulations to all involved. pic.twitter.com/AkmRLS3Ch8

— Windmill Lane Recording Studios (@WindmillLaneRec) December 14, 2021

And that’s just a small selection of the kudos that have been flowing – and continues to flow – in.

"To hear so many people say that we have done that is a wonderful feeling,” Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said. "I am very proud of the work put in by everyone on the team here at Hot Press. The fact that Stuart was so closely involved with the band at the very start adds a huge element of authenticity. He did a brilliant job with it all.”

Copies of Why Can’t We? will hit Limerick again tomorrow and should be available in O’Mahony’s Bookshop ASAP, for those vital final Christmas present purchases.

The book is also available in all Dubray outlets, including in Cork, Galway and Bray, as well as Dublin.