FLOWERBEDS HAVE BEEN installed to protect the Molly Malone statue from further damage by people attempting to ‘grope’ the sculpture’s breasts.

The statue was painted last month to cover damage done to the area.

There’s been further damage even since even that repair and Dublin City Arts Office have confirmed to The Journal that they plan to repair the statue once again. 

The Arts Office also confirmed that while they hope the flower beds will be a deterrence to tourists ‘groping’ the statue, they are looking at other options for how to protect it going forward. 

The practice of rubbing Molly Malone’s chest area for good luck is suspected to have begun in 2012 by a tour guide, or guides.

Plans for the flower beds were considered in July. At the time, Dublin City Council (DCC) said that the tourist habit had become “ingrained”. 

In April, DCC announced the implementation of a pilot scheme to hire stewards, similar to the stewards that patrolled the Dublin Portal, to protect the statue. 

Stewards patrolled for one week in May but no further plans to employ security for the statue were announced following the pilot.

The statue has been the subject of numerous protests over the years. It was was vandalised twice in one week in 2023.  

The statue’s chest area was covered in black paint and the words “7 years bad luck” were painted in green over black paint.

The graffiti received widespread attention on social media with many speaking out against the tourist practice of touching the statue.  

Singer Imelda May was amongst those who spoke out against “groping” the statue, which she said sends a message of objectification of women.

May wrote on Instagram: “Whoever ‘vandalised’ Molly is speaking up for all of us. Stand with us in saying Hands Off!!!”

‘Molly Malone’ by Irish sculptor Jeanne Rynhart was erected at the northern end of Grafton Street in 1988.

It was moved around the corner to Suffolk Street a decade ago to make way for the Luas.