Now 23-year-old student Tilly Cripwell is campaigning for Dublin Council to repair the statue and raise it to a less accessible level.
Unfortunately several tour operators have included the statue in their list of local attractions, encouraging more physical contact. Also an urban myth has emerged that touching the statue's breasts will bring good luck.
Dublin Council says it's considering the campaigner's requests and has asked for cost quotations for carrying out the work.
I've never actually seen the statue in situ but I can understand the objection to visitors casually groping her breasts as if that's okay ("It's only a statue" as some of them put it).
The Council could put up a "Do Not Touch" sign but how many people would take any notice?
Molly Malone isn't a real person of course. She was a legendary Dublin woman who sold shellfish in the city streets. She's the subject of a traditional folk song that's now the city's unofficial anthem.
Anyway, the next time I'm in Dublin I'll check out the statue - and see if anyone's fondling it.
PS: The lyrics are here: https://www.google.com/search?q=molly+malone+lyrics
i have seen many photos of statues that have shiny parts. I always find it quite touching.
ReplyDeleteOf course, dogs are disproportionately represented in the ones I refer to.
Kylie: Yes, you don't see many statues of dogs!
DeleteOk, I’m cracking up at this statue! Are her breasts completely exposed? Now I’m wondering what sort of song this is?
ReplyDeleteBijoux: They are. But it's a very respectable song, no mention of breasts!
DeleteBless her! Someone should give her a modesty vest.
ReplyDeleteI loved that song when I was at primary school.
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Ms Scarlet: Covering her breasts would be one way of deterring unwanted attention.
DeleteNick so funny. My grandchild loved the song of Molly Malone, after the good night story we sang " in Dublin's fair city" ....! Well touching statues is a quite common thing .
ReplyDeleteHannah
Hannah: Molly Malone is a very popular song. Glad your grandchild loved it!
DeletePeople will do stupid things. If they need to grope breasts I suppose it's better it happens to a statue, I guess.
ReplyDeleteSandra: That's one way of looking at it! The male desire to grope breasts baffles me.
DeletePerhaps a breast will wear through. I think of the large hole in Willie Nelson's guitar.
ReplyDeleteJoanne: It might do. Of course the hole in Willie Nelson's guitar came about through the way he played the guitar, not from groping tourists!
DeleteNick, this is not the only statue to be groped whether by a part of the anatomy or otherwise. Many thoughtless people have done the same with public works in other places. In some places, it has even been invited although I am not sure why.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice: Yes, I expect other statues have been groped just as badly. How odd that in some places it's actually invited.
DeleteWhen people are told not to do something they are more likely to try and do it.
ReplyDeleteMary: That's often the case. Rules are made to be broken, as they say.
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