‘Hands off our Molly’

SOUTHSIDE politicians have told their Northside counterparts to take their hands off the iconic Molly Malone statue.

Two Northside city councillors are attempting to have the statue moved from its current location at the bottom of Grafton Street to a more

“appropriate

? setting north of the Liffey.

At a meeting of Dublin City Council’s Central Area Committee last week, Cllrs Nial Ring (Ind) and Mary Fitzpatrick (FF), who represent the Northside, called for the relocation of the statue to its

“spiritual home

? in Moore Street.

“Molly should come home,

? Cllr Ring said.

“The statue has to be moved to facilitate the upcoming Luas and Grafton Street precinct works and there is no better place for Molly than Moore Street.

“There is no doubt that given the long association and history of street trading in Moore Street and the surrounding areas, the Molly Malone statue is a most appropriate symbol of the rich street trading heritage.

“I have spoken with Ernie Beggs, a representative of the Moore Street traders, and he is 100 per cent supportive of our demand to have the statue moved to Moore Street.

?

He added:

“We all agree that having the statue here would be a great boost for the area and an obvious tourist attraction that would give visitors a chance to see a unique aspect of Dublin life.

?

However, the Northsiders’ move has been derided by their Southside counterparts, who have told them to

“take their hands off our Molly

?.

“They can sing the famous song but they can’t have our statue,

? fumed Mannix Flynn, the Independent city councillor who represents the South East Inner City.

“It is true that the statue has to be moved to accommodate the new Luas line but it is only a temporary move and there is no way the Northside should get her.

“I have instead suggested that Molly be given a temporary home in Temple Bar, where she would remain the tourist attraction that she has become. And most importantly, she would remain on the Southside.

?

The Labour TD for Dublin South East, Kevin Humphreys, said he had no problem with the Northside getting Molly

“for a short break

?.

“But her home is on Grafton Street,

? he declared.

“Ms Malone had no association with Moore Street so they should stop trying to rewrite the history of Dublin.

“The statue is a long established tourist attraction at the bottom of Grafton Street and that’s where it has belonged since it was unveiled by Lord Mayor Ben Briscoe as part of the city’s millennium celebrations in 1988.

?

He added:

“She maybe deserves a short holiday on the Northside but she must be returned to her proper location after the Luas works.

?

However, Ernie Beggs is adamant that Molly should be relocated to the Northside.

“We have the real Molly Malones on Moore Street,

? he stated.

“Come down here any day of the week and there they are, the real deal, in the flesh.

“We have a history of street trading here and that statue should never have been put where it is. And as for offering us Molly for a holiday, well, I’ll tell you something for nothing: if we do get her, they aren’t going to get her back!

?