Irish Women in Harmony for Safe Ireland: Áine Cahill discusses 'Dreams'

Áine Cahill, a Co. Cavan native who has been working steadily in the music industry since she began writing songs at the age of 16, is very clear about the importance of the  Safe Ireland campaign for women. “We are here,” she says. It is a powerful statement.

Áine’s larger-than-life voice features in the release of the Irish Women in Harmony cover of The Cranberries’ ‘Dreams’, which is being sold online, in aid of Safe Ireland. “We can achieve great things if we come together and support each other,” Áine says.

Safe Ireland is seeing a huge spike in women coming forward about their domestic abuse during the Coronavirus pandemic, as women and children in abusive households are largely stuck at home. So too, unfortunately, are their partners. The release of ‘Dreams’ aims both to raise awareness about the predicament of these families, and to raise funds for Safe Ireland.

“Lockdown is the worst case scenario for people who experience domestic abuse,” Áine emphasises. “They are trapped and in need of serious support. With the current restrictions, charities like Safe Ireland are unable to raise funds as normal – so with rising activity and less funding they are under major pressure.”

When Áine was approached by RuthAnne to do the single, it was an immediate “Yes.”

“The thought of all of us working together gave me shivers,” she confesses. "I admire everyone involved in this project so much and I’m honoured to have been asked to do it. I think it was something that needed to be done for a while, I’m so thankful to RuthAnne for bringing us all together. Ireland has a rich stream of talented female artists who don’t usually get put at the forefront of the industry here.”

It’s true. Charity singles so far during the Coronavirus pandemic are coming chiefly from male-fronted bands. While wonderful, there’s a danger of perpetuating a harmful myth that women aren’t as big a financial draw as men. This single will do doubt prove the opposite.

Áine Cahill looks to Dolores O’Riordan to dispel that myth as well.

“She is really one of the people who has set the bar for Irish artists, male or female,” she says. “Her voice is so unique to her, it can’t be replicated. That is something I have always admired about her. Her vocal identity sets her apart from so many others. She is a name that you just know growing up without realising it. She’s ingrained in our culture as Irish people.”

Watch the Irish Women in Harmony cover of 'Dreams' below: