Statue Guardians Appointed for Allegedly Grope-Victim: Molly Malone
Title: The Molly Malone Statue in Dublin Faces a Touchy Situation: A Pilot Scheme to Curb Adult Activities
The Molly Malone statue in Dublin, a celebrated cultural icon, has been no stranger to a peculiar and, at times, inappropriate tradition. Over the years, visitors — especially tourists — have been seen touching the statue's breasts, believing it to bring them luck or as a quirky local custom.[2][5]
This longstanding tradition has taken a toll on the bronze sculpture, causing it to discolor and wear out, costing the city thousands of euros in repairs every few months.[1] Frustrated by the situation, Dublin City Council has stepped in with a creative solution — a pilot scheme aimed at curbing such unsavory behavior.
Background of the Pilot Scheme
The pilot program was born out of the increasing number of complaints about people treating the statue as their personal plaything.[1] Ray Yeates, the Arts Officer for Dublin City Council, explains that the scheme mobilizes stewards to engage visitors, encouraging them to reconsider their actions and remind them of the statue's cultural importance.[1]
Unlike traditional guardians or law enforcement, the stewards are there for a friendly chat, educating instead of enforcing rules through authority.[1][2] This approach is designed to foster an appreciation for the statue and inhibit the propagation of inappropriate public behavior, which would be illegal if directed towards actual people in public settings.[1][2]
Current Status
As of May 2025, the stewards continue to stand vigilant at the statue, representing a cost-effective strategy to tackle damage and questionable conduct issues.[1][5] Some discussions have rotated around raising the statue to make it less accessible, potentially deterring people from touching it, but for the time being, human interaction through stewards remains the core strategy.[5]
While the initiative is still in its infancy, some Dublin City Council officers are willing to accept this seemingly irrepressible custom as part of the statue's public interaction, yet the ongoing damage and the social repercussions arising from the touching behavior continue to spark debate.[3]
In essence, the pilot scheme endeavors to gently enlighten visitors on the importance of preserving the Molly Malone statue while respecting social mores by encouraging them to refrain from the inappropriate behavior.[1][2][5] Future plans may include additional measures, such as raising the statue, to safeguard the statue and curb the behavior.
- Despite ongoing efforts to curb the inappropriate tradition of touching the Molly Malone statue, discussions about raising the statue to deter such activity persist as an added measure for maintaining its cultural importance and preventing damage, due to the high costs of repairs.
- In the realm of news and lifestyle, the pilot scheme aimed at educating visitors on preserving the Molly Malone statue has expanded to the home-and-garden section, as Dublin City Council considers raising the statue to discourage a controversial custom that has caused damage over the years.
