Molly Molone debate divides the city

Two Northside city councillors have called for the Molly Malone statue at the end of Grafton Street to be moved to a new location on Moore Street. We asked our Dublin People Facebook friends if they agreed with the proposal or if she should she stay on the Southside. Here’s an edited selection of some of the comments we received.

Karl Bates: Moore Street is not the same anymore. The authenticity of Dublin street traders is nearly gone. It’s full of crap now. Leave Molly where she is, I say.

Larry O’Connor: I feckin hate Northside Vs Southside stuff like this. Put the question another way – is this not a needless waste of money? And I am from the Coombe and me Mam’s name is Malone.

Layla Moroney: I would agree if Moore Street was like it was 10 or 20 years ago. Moore Street is awful now. Molly would look out of place there now.

David D-Pole: Leave her be, she looks happy where she is. And she keeps the anti-fur trade people company.

Frances Mansfield: Molly Malone was a legendary figure. The city of Dublin was originally on the Southside of the city where many of the residents lived. Around the area of Christchurch there were many markets, including fish markets. As she was supposed to have sold fish, she should stay on the Southside.

Pat Kerr: Leave her where she is. She would be out of place in Moore Street with the state it’s in.

Mag Sloan: I’m a Northsider and I think she should stay where she is. And Moore Street ain’t looking the best these days.

Mairin Ni Chaba-Carroll: Leave Molly (m)alone!

Frank Bonass: Yes, she should be on Moore Street.

Evelyn Devereaux: Seriously, does the country really need to be moving statues around? Besides, Moore Street is a dump.

Caroline Butler: Don’t move Molly!

Michelle King: She is not exactly a specific person but she is based on someone, so I guess she should be moved to wherever she is from or stay where she is if that’s where she’s from.

Deirdre Ward: What about O’Connell Street?

Niall Maher: Stick her outside Copper Face Jacks.

Ailish Walsh Mangan: Leave Molly where she is. This drives me mad. More money down the drain. What is the point in that when they keep saying the country is broke? After all, Molly has been in that spot for as long as I can remember.

Norman Barton: If I was Molly I’d have f****** off to the Southside too, unless there was something going on in Clontarf or Malahide. Lol. What a waste of money!

Ceire Harrington-Rhein: Well she has to be moved as works are being carried out. The move is only temporary. I think Moore Street is up and coming, so yes, I feel it would help the area. But should she not be up in Christchurch? Is that not where she worked?

Suzanne McKay: Moore Street is where she belongs.

Andy Gaygan: Wtf is wrong with this country? We have bigger problems than where to put a statue.

Sandra O’Raw: She belongs where she is so leave her there.

Darach Garland: A moving statue! Just like 1985 all over again. Don’t you just love this recession lark? History repeating itself. Next thing we’ll start winning the Eurovision again.

Neil Keegan: If she was sent across the Liffey she would only be defaced or stolen!

Karen O’Reilly: Bring Molly to Moore Street. She belongs there with the stallholders.

Mary T Kelly: Put half on the Northside and half on the Southside on O’Connell Bridge. Both sides lol.

Frances Conlon Kinsella: Leave her be.

Christine Hickey O’Reilly: Why move it? It’s been there for years and is a prime location for tourists to see our heritage.

Andrew Kerr: Why not move the Government to the other side of the galaxy instead of Molly?

Deirdre Lawlor Dalton: I don’t think it would suit Molly to sell apples or bananas. She’s much better with the upmarket clients.

Diane McGregor: I am shocked at this. As a foreigner living in Dublin, seeing Molly when I go down Grafton Street is one thing I have grown to love.

Marian Morrissey: I think if she’s happy there, leave her alone.

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