'Sexualised' Molly Malone statue causing 'upset' amid new plans to stop groping
Dublin City Council believes the practise is "ingrained" into sightseers and confirmed it is exploring the idea of installing flower beds around the base as a possible fix.
Rubbing the famous fishmonger's breasts for luck is believed to have been thought up by a cheeky tour guide in 2012.
Council bosses acknowledged that when the marshals were in place, people would cooperate, but once they were gone, the Suffolk Street effigy would be groped again.
The act has led to Molly Malone's chest area becoming discoloured from being rubbed by countless tourists on a daily basis - but we can also reveal that preparations are underway to have it restored. Tourists often rub Molly Malone's cleavage, believing that it brings good luck (Image: Getty Images)
In April, it was announced that stewards would patrol around the famous statue for a week on a pilot basis from the start of May.
As part of the pilot programme, the wardens stood adjacent to the statue, located outside St Andrew's Church, and intervened if any tourists went to feel her bust.
When the initiative was announced, Dublin City Council Arts Officer Ray Yeates also said he had concerns about the safety of people climbing onto the plinth to touch the statue.
The Irish Mirror contacted Dublin City Council to ask what the outcome of the pilot was and if it had any plans to appoint stewards on a permanent basis.
In response, a spokesperson said: "The Stewards were in situ for one week in May.
"When approached not to touch the statue, people were generally cooperative, but without stewards the behaviour returns and is ingrained apparently as part of your visit to Dublin.
"Tour guides also cooperated very well by asking their groups not to touch the statue.
"It is difficult to change this behaviour, so we are exploring other avenues of protection for the sculpture, including installing flower beds around the base."
The council added: "Of immediate importance is the restoration of the sculpture, which was reviewed by a conservator recently.
"The patination is damaged, and we are currently organising the restoration of it."
It comes as emails sent to Mr Yeates and the council, which were released to the Irish Mirror following a Freedom of Information Request, show Dubliners were divided about the practise.
One email sent to Mr Yeates on the day it was announced that stewards would be appointed to guard the statue read: "I thought it would be useful if you heard counter arguments to the ones that have led to your very humorous decision to protect the dignity of our brass attractions around the city.
"Making decisions like this based on extreme views are never a good idea.
"We are being pulled to the extremes everywhere in the world, and we need to centre again. Maybe the sculptor wanted a more serious piece of work but that's not how it was perceived and we are where we are."
The emailer added: "Rubbing the statue is a silly, slightly risqué piece of nothingness. I can't say I have ever been bothered to engage but I see it for what it is.
"Please spend your money on promoting the arts and maybe if you don't have need for the budget give it to one of the departments that deal with Garda forums or general matters of urban decay."
Another email sent to Mr Yeates from a young woman said seeing the statue being "sexualised" causes her "extreme upset". One person emailed Dublin City Council to say: "Rubbing the statue is a silly, slightly risqué piece of nothingness" (Image: Getty Images)
The email, which was sent before the stewards initiative was announced, read: "Is there a way we can darken the areas of the Molly Malone statue, where the dark colour has been worn off from people touching her and taking photos, specially the breast area?
"I'm a young girl, I walk past it everyday on my way to school, and seeing an admirable woman be sexualised and degraded causes me extreme upset."
The email also said she worries about the impact the act will have on young girls and believes it represents Dublin in a "poor light".
She added: "I'd like to think Dublin is a place where women can feel safe and celebrated, rather than objectified and dehumanised."
While another said the practise was a "really awful depiction of how the city values its female historical figures" and asked if the council had plans to deal with it.
The monument of Molly Malone was created by Jeanne Rynhart. It was initially located near the bottom of Grafton Street, but was moved to Suffolk Street in 2014.
Controversy has been growing about the practise of rubbing the statue's breasts for a while. It led to the 'Leave Molly mAlone' campaign earlier this year, which was spearheaded by singer-songwriter Tilly Cripwell and urged the public to stop molesting the statue.
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