A student has started a campaign to get tourists to stop the long-standing tradition of groping the famous Molly Malone statue in Dublin.
Throngs of tourists swarm Suffolk Street day after day to glimpse the pride of Dublin that stands outside St. Andrew’s Church: a statue of Molly Malone, the folkloric fishmonger commemorated in the city’s unofficial anthem “Cockles and Mussels.”Many of them do more than look: In what’s become an odd tradition that tour guides claim brings good luck, visitors frequently grope the statue. The practice is so widespread and long-standing that the chest on the bronze statue has become discolored.
While true that Molly was a form of the name Mary, those claiming that the Molly Malone of folklore was a historical figure produced no evidence that any of the “Mary Mallones” listed in the St. John’s register, of which there were many, ever went by Molly, according to the paper. And Murphy found no version of the “Cockles and Mussels” song predating 1850 when it appeared in a “gagbook” written by a Victorian-era circus clown.
Cripwell quickly noticed that tourists almost inevitably rubbed or groped the statue’s breasts. Some guides even encouraged tourists to do so — “for luck, allegedly,” she said.Cripwell was not the first to question the tradition. Amid the #MeToo movement, a woman wrote to the Irish Times in 2018 urging people to “stop sexually harassing Molly Malone.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Molly Ringwald Channels the '80s on Batsheva Runway During New York Fashion WeekMolly Ringwald walked the Batsheva fashion show on Feb. 13 during New York Fashion Week with a cast of models over age 40 — see the actress' '80s runway moment
Read more »
Molly Goddard Fall 2024 Ready-to-Wear: Married to the BlobMolly Goddard Fall 2024 Ready-to-Wear runway, fashion show & collection review. The designer focused on blob-like silhouettes and vivid colors.
Read more »
Molly Ringwald brings compassion, friendship to 'FEUD: Capote vs. the Swans'In the rise and fall of Truman Capote, very few friends are with him to the very end. That's where actress Molly Ringwald's character, Joanne Carson, comes in with compassion.
Read more »
Molly Goddard Fall 2024 Ready-to-Wear CollectionMolly Goddard Fall 2024 Ready-to-Wear collection, runway looks, beauty, models, and reviews.
Read more »
Molly Ringwald and Gus Van Sant Are Still Searching for the Real CapoteMolly Ringwald connected with her 'Feud: Capote vs. the Swans' director Gus Van Sant to discuss Capote's complicated psychology.
Read more »
Lilly Hiatt, Molly MartinLilly Hiatt, Molly Martin at Beachland Tavern:
Read more »