Calls have been made to elevate a statue of Irish folklore figure Molly Malone to stop people groping her breasts.
The bronze statue, a popular figure in Dublin’s tourist scene, is at the centre of an online row as many visitors touch her breasts ‘for good luck’.
Campaigner Tilly Cripwell has called on Dublin City Council to raise the 1988 statue out of reach so people can no longer grope the metal body part.
The student claimed she has seen tourists touch the statue’s chest up to 60 times per hour.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain today, the campaigner said: ‘I would like for her to be raised on a higher statue to symbolically and physically elevate her, and prevent people from clambering all over her.’
But the campaign has faced backlash on social media, with people reminding the student that the model is ‘a statue, not a real person’.
‘Imagine a life so dull and empty that you start a campaign to move a statue because you think it’s being touch inappropriately. It’s not a real person,’ one wrote on X.
‘Oh please be quiet! It’s a statue not a real person!’ another said.
‘Did she just say she didn’t want a statue to be touched “inappropriately” […] Next they’ll say she didn’t give consent!’
However, others have agreed with the campaign, claiming the groping of the model encourages ‘misogynistic’ behaviour in men and boys.
‘The Molly Malone statue in #Dublin encourages #misogynistic behaviour in boys, men and people in general. Not a good look, especially when we are seeking an equal society #GMB.’
People touch statues all over the world, believing it will bring them good luck.
One person on X, who agreed with Ms Cripwell’s campaign, said the same thing happens to the statue of Juliet in Verona.
‘I agree with @tilly_cripwell that this type of behaviour should change. The same is being done in #VeronaBologna to the #Juliet statue.
‘Touching a woman’s breast is a no-no! In my opinion.’
In 2022, A TikTok user went viral after claiming the Juliet statue in Verona has been ‘sexually harassed’.
The woman, who posted under the handle @acaciasoren, said tourists had been behaving inappropriately towards the model, from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, that stands in a courtyard in the city where the play is set.
Superstitious tourists and locals rub the statue’s bosom, believing it will bring good luck.
The TikTok user was ridiculed over the video, with people pointing out the statue is ‘not a real woman’ and that she should save her energy for actual cases of sexual harassment.
Speaking in the clip, the poster said: ‘Juliet’s statue has been sexually harassed so often that her dress literally faded.’
A tourist can be seen eagerly taking a photo of themselves touching Juliet’s breast in the hopes of getting lucky in the short video.
Today, another user posted a photo of the Cristiano Ronaldo statue in Madeira – which shows a worn-down crotch area – alongside the caption: ‘Check out the well-touched bits of the Ronaldo statue in Madeira.’
A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said: ‘The Arts Office and Area Office have engaged with Elected Members and numerus public inquiries in relation to damage to the Molly Malone statue.
‘Various remedies are being considered and a report to City Council will issue soon.’