Emma Langford, Róisín El Cherif, Dylan Flynn and more Limerick artists release collaborative cover of The Cranberries’ ‘Animal Instinct’ in support of The Haven Hub

A number of Limerick artists including Emma Langford, Róisín El Cherif, Noelle O’Riordan and more have collaborated with the children’s choir from Corpus Christi School in Moyross, to release their cover of The Cranberries’ ‘Animal Instinct’.

The release, which premieres today to coincide with Dolores O’Riordan’s passing, is part of a fundraising campaign to open the doors of The Haven Hub’s new riverside drop-in centre, Ireland’s first dedicated community centre focused solely on mental health.

Vocalists on the track, in order of appearance, are Emma Langford, Abe Soare, Noelle O’Riordan, Ronan Mitchell (Fox Jaw), Dylan Flynn (Dylan Flynn and the Dead Poets), Annie Cheevers, Eve Stafford, Fint Tynan (Raging Sons), Siobhán O’Brien, Tríona Horan, Ann Blake, Roisin El Cherif, Jean McGlynn, Michelle Grimes, Sarah Dolan, Joyce Zacks, and Corpus Christi School choir.

The music video for ‘Animal Instincts’ is created by Crude Media’s Shane Serrano and features volunteers from the Haven Hub and suicide patrol team, staff from neighbouring businesses, Limerick personalities, and cherished members of the community.

The Haven Hub aims to fundraise essential funds to support the ongoing repairs of their new Thomond Bridge location in order to bring the centre up to usable conditions. They approached Limerick singer-songwriter Emma Langford in 2024 to head up the collaborative fundraising project that would unite artists across genres.

“The Haven Hub is a cause close to my heart, and the song is a perfect fit to raise funds for them”, Langford says, “it tells the story of someone coming to terms with the fact that they’re struggling, and does so in a beautifully simple, vulnerable way – but ultimately the song’s message is one of hope; it’s that we have this animal instinct to fight and to survive.”

 

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Pat Doran goes on to say that with the release of this single, the Haven Hub’s aim is to spread the message that no one has to face crisis or distress alone:“Our new Mid West Mental Health Community Centre, generously granted to us by Limerick City and County Council, will stand as a symbol of hope. It will be Ireland’s first dedicated community centre focused solely on mental health and mental health supports, offering vital information and resources at its core."

In terms of how the Haven Hub is growing and the importance of the new riverside premises, its founder Leona O’Callaghan says that the past 5 years have been “a massive journey” for the charity. “We have not only expanded geographically into other areas, but our services now offer early intervention supports, alongside mental health crisis supports.”

The centre offers walking groups, a trauma support group, wellness courses, a drop in centre and fun evening activities simply to connect people face-to-face in a safe space.

“Having our forever home allows our volunteers a place of our own which makes a massive difference in the work that we do. We are so grateful to all the artists that got behind this project, in particular Emma Langford, and also Limerick City Council for its support”.

Before going into studio to record the track, the super-group had their debut in October 2024 on the stage of Limerick’s much loved Dolan’s Warehouse at Music For Mental Health, an annual concert organised by Karl Daly to raise funds for local mental health resources.

You can text HAVEN to 50300 to donate €4 to The Haven Hub, or click this link.