Sunday 3 May 2009

Molly Malone is a popular song set in Dublin. It tells the tale of a beautiful fishmonger who plied her trade on the streets of the city. Folklore has it that she was a hawker by day and a prostitute by night, however there is actually no evidence that the song is based on a real woman. This does not diminish the songs popularity however and Molly is a big hit with tourists as well as you can see from my photo.
This lovely statue in Grafton Street is by Jeanne Rynhart and was erected to celebrate Dublin's Millenium in 1987. Molly is portrayed as a busty young woman in 17th century dress.

In Dublin's fair city,
where the girls are so pretty,
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone,
As she wheeled her wheelbarrow,
through streets broad and narrow,
Singing Cockles and Mussels,
Alive alive o.

No comments: