Band aid

Dolores O'Riordan announced in Dublin today that The Cranberries will be donating all the proceeds from their 'Time Is Ticking Out' single to the Chernobyl Children's Project.

Dolores — who was accompanied at The Clarence Hotel by the charity's patron, Ali Hewson, and its founder and executive director, Adi Roche — explained to hotpress.com how the song came about.

"I had just given birth to my second child, a beautiful healthy little girl. It was at this time that I read an article in a paper which featured The Chernobyl Children's Project. I had spoken briefly with Ali on the subject before this, but I was so moved, almost to tears, that I wrote 'Time Is Ticking Out'.

"It was inspired by the children and I hope I can raise awareness on this issue. It shouldn't be like this — we must do something about it."

Founded in 1991 after a nuclear disaster in Chernobyl five years earlier, the CCP has directed EU24 million worth of aid to surviving victims, most of whose medical problems, explained Roche, are only beginning to manifest themselves.

Pictured here from left to right are: Ali Hewson, Adi Roche and Dolores O'Riordan