Latest news with #LeaveMollymAlone
Sunday World
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Flower beds to be installed around Molly Malone statue to prevent touching
The move comes after a recent trial of stewards stationed by the statue for one week in May, whose role was to discourage tourists and locals from rubbing the sculpture The Molly Malone statue on Suffolk Street in Dublin. Pic: David Conachy Dublin City Council plans to install flower beds around the base of the iconic Molly Malone statue in a bid to protect it from persistent touching and damage by visitors. The move comes after a recent trial of stewards stationed by the statue for one week in May, whose role was to discourage tourists and locals from rubbing the sculpture. According to the council, when approached by the stewards and asked not to touch Molly Malone, most people were cooperative. Tour guides also played a positive role by asking their groups to respect the statue and avoid contact. However, the council acknowledges that without stewards present, the problematic behaviour quickly returns and has become 'ingrained, apparently as part of your visit to Dublin'. This long-standing issue has made it difficult to change visitor habits, prompting the council to explore alternative protective measures such as using flower beds to create a physical barrier around the base of 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,' a spokesperson for Dublin City Council said. The Molly Malone statue, which depicts the legendary fishmonger and singer immortalised in Dublin's folklore, has become a popular tourist attraction since its unveiling in 1988. Over the years, the statue's bronze surface has suffered damage caused by repeated touching and groping, especially of the statue's breasts. This practice arose as part of a misguided tradition believed by some visitors to bring good luck. A recent conservator's review found that the statue's patination – the protective coating on the bronze – has been worn and damaged by repeated touching and rubbing. The patination is damaged, and the council are currently organising its restoration to repair the sculpture and preserve it for future generations. The council's Arts Officer, Ray Yeates, previously said the treatment of the statue had caused 'disquiet and upset'. The decision to trial stewards and now install flower beds, follows a campaign led by singer-songwriter Tilly Cripwell called Leave Molly mAlone, which sought to highlight the need for greater respect and care for the statue. The campaign drew attention to how the statue has been subjected to inappropriate behaviour, urging Dubliners and visitors alike to treat the landmark with dignity. 'This is a wonderful victory for Dublin's heritage,' Ms Cripwell said. 'Molly Malone deserves to be admired and respected. I'm thrilled that Dublin City Council has taken action. 'I hope visitors will continue to appreciate her in a way that preserves her legacy and sets good social examples for future generations.' The statue originally stood on Grafton Street before being moved to Suffolk Street in 2014 during Luas construction works. The Molly Malone statue on Suffolk Street in Dublin. Pic: David Conachy News in 90 Seconds - July 22nd
Irish Independent
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Flower beds to be installed around Molly Malone statue to prevent touching
The move comes after a recent trial of stewards stationed by the statue for one week in May, whose role was to discourage tourists and locals from rubbing the sculpture. According to the council, when approached by the stewards and asked not to touch Molly Malone, most people were cooperative. Tour guides also played a positive role by asking their groups to respect the statue and avoid contact. However, the council acknowledges that without stewards present, the problematic behaviour quickly returns and has become 'ingrained, apparently as part of your visit to Dublin'. This long-standing issue has made it difficult to change visitor habits, prompting the council to explore alternative protective measures such as using flower beds to create a physical barrier around the base of 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,' a spokesperson for Dublin City Council said. The Molly Malone statue, which depicts the legendary fishmonger and singer immortalised in Dublin's folklore, has become a popular tourist attraction since its unveiling in 1988. Over the years, the statue's bronze surface has suffered damage caused by repeated touching and groping, especially of the statue's breasts. This practice arose as part of a misguided tradition believed by some visitors to bring good luck. A recent conservator's review found that the statue's patination – the protective coating on the bronze – has been worn and damaged by repeated touching and rubbing. The patination is damaged, and the council are currently organising its restoration to repair the sculpture and preserve it for future generations. The council's Arts Officer, Ray Yeates, previously said the treatment of the statue had caused 'disquiet and upset'. The decision to trial stewards and now install flower beds, follows a campaign led by singer-songwriter Tilly Cripwell called Leave Molly mAlone, which sought to highlight the need for greater respect and care for the statue. The campaign drew attention to how the statue has been subjected to inappropriate behaviour, urging Dubliners and visitors alike to treat the landmark with dignity. 'This is a wonderful victory for Dublin's heritage,' Ms Cripwell said. 'Molly Malone deserves to be admired and respected. I'm thrilled that Dublin City Council has taken action. 'I hope visitors will continue to appreciate her in a way that preserves her legacy and sets good social examples for future generations.' The statue originally stood on Grafton Street before being moved to Suffolk Street in 2014 during Luas construction works.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Campaigner wants everyone to stop groping Dublin's famous Molly Malone statue
A famous Dublin statue of a mythical fishmonger should be protected from the groping hands of tourists and passersby, says a young woman campaigning to protect her. Tilly Cripwell is in her final year studying languages at the city's famous Trinity College. Over the past two-and-a-half years the 23-year-old Briton, who is also a singer-songwriter, has been busking at some of the most popular tourist spots in the Irish capital—including by the bronze statue of Molly Malone. She regularly sees selfie-seekers stopping to pose with Malone, a fictional young woman who is the subject of the city's unofficial anthem, 'Molly Malone.' Covered by everyone from U2 to Joni Mitchell, the song tells of a young seafood seller who plied her trade on Dublin's streets and died of a fever. But it is Malone's low-cut dress that appears to have attracted more attention than her sad fate, as well as the urban myth that doing so can bring good luck. So many people now rub or grope her breasts, according to Cripwell, that the bronze has dramatically changed color. 'When you're busking you spend a couple of hours at a time in a spot and I just saw this behavior so often and one day I had just had enough and thought if I'm going to continue to busk there then I need to stop this,' Cripwell told CNN in a phone call. 'It isn't actually a tradition—it's more of a trend as it's only emerged in the last 15 or 20 years. Generally it's people standing up to get a picture and groping Molly's breasts, usually from behind. Often you get people kissing her breasts or putting their faces in them and they're generally really loud and rowdy.' Both men and women engage in this behavior, but men tend to be more brazen, said Cripwell. 'The other day some French tourists also mimed groping me after groping her from maybe a meter away,' she added. 'The main thing that gets me is that it's a really bad example on the standards we're setting for behavior around women in society.' The statue of Malone pushing her cart has become one of the city's main photo opportunities since it was created by the late sculptor Jeanne Rynhart. Originally erected on Grafton Street in 1988 for Dublin's millennium celebrations, it was moved to nearby Suffolk Street in 2014 to make way for a new tram line. Cripwell launched her #LeaveMollymAlone social media campaign in February last year and has since met with Dublin City Council to ask them to make some changes. 'The main thing is to have the statue raised on a higher pedestal, which will match the majority of male statues here, and also to have the whole statue repatinated so that there's no discoloration on her breasts,' Cripwell told CNN. She would also like to see a plaque put up, explaining the story behind the legend. In a recent post on Instagram, Cripwell said she thought such changes would 'elevate Molly both physically and figuratively, and highlight the story that contributes to her legacy.' She said Dublin officials are eager to collaborate but nothing has yet been implemented, though she said they have asked tour guiding companies to deter participants from touching the statue. Cripwell said she sometimes speaks up for Malone, but that this can be 'exhausting,' as up to 60 people touch her every hour on a busy day. She has, however, come up with an alternative course of action: her own cover version of the famous song, including extra verses she has written tagged on at the end. The song tells of 'sweet Molly Malone,' who wheeled her wheelbarrow through the streets selling cockles and mussels—even beyond the grave. But Cripwell's version continues with the spectral Malone witnessing this groping. She sings: 'Now no one can save her from the people who claim her, And I want to scream 'just leave Molly alone!' Like those with no voice, she's left with no choice, Crying 'Leave her alone, our Molly Malone.'' Dublin City Council did not respond to CNN's request for comment.
CNN
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Campaigner wants everyone to stop groping Dublin's famous Molly Malone statue
A famous Dublin statue of a mythical fishmonger should be protected from the groping hands of tourists and passersby, says a young woman campaigning to protect her. Tilly Cripwell is in her final year studying languages at the city's famous Trinity College. Over the past two-and-a-half years the 23-year-old Briton, who is also a singer-songwriter, has been busking at some of the most popular tourist spots in the Irish capital—including by the bronze statue of Molly Malone. She regularly sees selfie-seekers stopping to pose with Malone, a fictional young woman who is the subject of the city's unofficial anthem, 'Molly Malone.' Covered by everyone from U2 to Joni Mitchell, the song tells of a young seafood seller who plied her trade on Dublin's streets and died of a fever. But it is Malone's low-cut dress that appears to have attracted more attention than her sad fate, as well as the urban myth that doing so can bring good luck. So many people now rub or grope her breasts, according to Cripwell, that the bronze has dramatically changed color. 'When you're busking you spend a couple of hours at a time in a spot and I just saw this behavior so often and one day I had just had enough and thought if I'm going to continue to busk there then I need to stop this,' Cripwell told CNN in a phone call. 'It isn't actually a tradition—it's more of a trend as it's only emerged in the last 15 or 20 years. Generally it's people standing up to get a picture and groping Molly's breasts, usually from behind. Often you get people kissing her breasts or putting their faces in them and they're generally really loud and rowdy.' Both men and women engage in this behavior, but men tend to be more brazen, said Cripwell. 'The other day some French tourists also mimed groping me after groping her from maybe a meter away,' she added. 'The main thing that gets me is that it's a really bad example on the standards we're setting for behavior around women in society.' The statue of Malone pushing her cart has become one of the city's main photo opportunities since it was created by the late sculptor Jeanne Rynhart. Originally erected on Grafton Street in 1988 for Dublin's millennium celebrations, it was moved to nearby Suffolk Street in 2014 to make way for a new tram line. Cripwell launched her #LeaveMollymAlone social media campaign in February last year and has since met with Dublin City Council to ask them to make some changes. 'The main thing is to have the statue raised on a higher pedestal, which will match the majority of male statues here, and also to have the whole statue repatinated so that there's no discoloration on her breasts,' Cripwell told CNN. She would also like to see a plaque put up, explaining the story behind the legend. In a recent post on Instagram, Cripwell said she thought such changes would 'elevate Molly both physically and figuratively, and highlight the story that contributes to her legacy.' She said Dublin officials are eager to collaborate but nothing has yet been implemented, though she said they have asked tour guiding companies to deter participants from touching the statue. Cripwell said she sometimes speaks up for Malone, but that this can be 'exhausting,' as up to 60 people touch her every hour on a busy day. She has, however, come up with an alternative course of action: her own cover version of the famous song, including extra verses she has written tagged on at the end. The song tells of 'sweet Molly Malone,' who wheeled her wheelbarrow through the streets selling cockles and mussels—even beyond the grave. But Cripwell's version continues with the spectral Malone witnessing this groping. She sings: 'Now no one can save her from the people who claim her, And I want to scream 'just leave Molly alone!' Like those with no voice, she's left with no choice, Crying 'Leave her alone, our Molly Malone.'' Dublin City Council did not respond to CNN's request for comment.
CNN
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Campaigner wants everyone to stop groping Dublin's famous Molly Malone statue
A famous Dublin statue of a mythical fishmonger should be protected from the groping hands of tourists and passersby, says a young woman campaigning to protect her. Tilly Cripwell is in her final year studying languages at the city's famous Trinity College. Over the past two-and-a-half years the 23-year-old Briton, who is also a singer-songwriter, has been busking at some of the most popular tourist spots in the Irish capital—including by the bronze statue of Molly Malone. She regularly sees selfie-seekers stopping to pose with Malone, a fictional young woman who is the subject of the city's unofficial anthem, 'Molly Malone.' Covered by everyone from U2 to Joni Mitchell, the song tells of a young seafood seller who plied her trade on Dublin's streets and died of a fever. But it is Malone's low-cut dress that appears to have attracted more attention than her sad fate, as well as the urban myth that doing so can bring good luck. So many people now rub or grope her breasts, according to Cripwell, that the bronze has dramatically changed color. 'When you're busking you spend a couple of hours at a time in a spot and I just saw this behavior so often and one day I had just had enough and thought if I'm going to continue to busk there then I need to stop this,' Cripwell told CNN in a phone call. 'It isn't actually a tradition—it's more of a trend as it's only emerged in the last 15 or 20 years. Generally it's people standing up to get a picture and groping Molly's breasts, usually from behind. Often you get people kissing her breasts or putting their faces in them and they're generally really loud and rowdy.' Both men and women engage in this behavior, but men tend to be more brazen, said Cripwell. 'The other day some French tourists also mimed groping me after groping her from maybe a meter away,' she added. 'The main thing that gets me is that it's a really bad example on the standards we're setting for behavior around women in society.' The statue of Malone pushing her cart has become one of the city's main photo opportunities since it was created by the late sculptor Jeanne Rynhart. Originally erected on Grafton Street in 1988 for Dublin's millennium celebrations, it was moved to nearby Suffolk Street in 2014 to make way for a new tram line. Cripwell launched her #LeaveMollymAlone social media campaign in February last year and has since met with Dublin City Council to ask them to make some changes. 'The main thing is to have the statue raised on a higher pedestal, which will match the majority of male statues here, and also to have the whole statue repatinated so that there's no discoloration on her breasts,' Cripwell told CNN. She would also like to see a plaque put up, explaining the story behind the legend. In a recent post on Instagram, Cripwell said she thought such changes would 'elevate Molly both physically and figuratively, and highlight the story that contributes to her legacy.' She said Dublin officials are eager to collaborate but nothing has yet been implemented, though she said they have asked tour guiding companies to deter participants from touching the statue. Cripwell said she sometimes speaks up for Malone, but that this can be 'exhausting,' as up to 60 people touch her every hour on a busy day. She has, however, come up with an alternative course of action: her own cover version of the famous song, including extra verses she has written tagged on at the end. The song tells of 'sweet Molly Malone,' who wheeled her wheelbarrow through the streets selling cockles and mussels—even beyond the grave. But Cripwell's version continues with the spectral Malone witnessing this groping. She sings: 'Now no one can save her from the people who claim her, And I want to scream 'just leave Molly alone!' Like those with no voice, she's left with no choice, Crying 'Leave her alone, our Molly Malone.'' Dublin City Council did not respond to CNN's request for comment.
