August 6, 1996 Limerick (60,000) is a port city on the western edge of Ireland. The town was founded in 900 A.D. by Vikings and tourism has picked up since the airport opened in 1939.

The big event in Limerick's history is in 1990. Brothers Mike and Noel Hogan, and friend Fergal Lawler started messing about in a band called The Cranberry Saw Us.

With the addition of Dolores O'Riordan, The Cranberries grew. The mega-group finally hits Calgary tonight at the Saddledome.

According to drummer Lawler, townspeople are actually quite indifferent to the band with three platinum albums and thousands of devoted websites.

"Noel, Mike, and myself still live in Limerick, and Dolores comes back now and again," informs Lawler from his home in the Irish countryside.

"They really don't make a big deal of it."

So while Limerick isn't particularly interested in The Cranberries, I am. And the Cranberry on the phone happens to be more interested in my name.

"I remember there was a private investigator on TV. McCloud? That's what sparked it off I think." Lawler adds with a laugh, "You aren't wearing a Stetson are you?"

Dennis Weaver aside, The Cranberries' origin is a made-for-TV story.

"Noel, Michael, and myself have been friends since we were young. We started playing when we were about 17. A friend of Noel's, who lives just up the street, played in a band. I said 'Why don't you come play with us for a bit.'

"It was all his music and not really what we wanted to do. There was no freedom, he just said 'Play this.'"

This is the part where fate kicks in:

"His girlfriend was in Dolores' class at school. She came up and played a few songs on the keyboards. We played an instrumental version of Linger."

Linger became the first in an impressive string of number one hits.

Their success continues to the quartet's third CD, To The Faithful Departed. Lawler agrees that much of The Cranberries' appeal can be traced to a talent for melody and hook.

"It's subliminal, from stuff we've listened to over the years." Influences on the berry song style include The Beatles, The Smiths, Patsy Cline, Elvis, and of course, Tammy Wynette.

"The music usually comes first and the lyrics afterward."

Though a late addition, O'Riordan is easily the most identifiable member of the group. In front of the Cranberries' hypnotic compositions, edgy and political lyrics can often be found.

"At the end of the day, it's Dolores who's singing the lyrics," Lawler says, when asked about philosophical leanings. "It's not me who's singing."

Lawler's just one of the boys in the band. And a fine band at that. PHOTO: Dolores O'Riordan, The Cranberries lead singer and most identifiable member.