MOLLY MALONE IS back.
The famously brassy lady returned to Dublin city centre at a new location this afternoon — having being plucked unceremoniously from her long-established home at the bottom of Grafton Street back in April.
Very little hoopla had been planned for this afternoon’s unveiling… Just a straightforward photo-op with new tourism minister Paschal Donohoe — who looked relieved that he wasn’t required to wear any comedy headwear for the occasion.
This is, after all, just a temporary home for the country’s most famous fictional fishmonger — she’ll be wheeling her wheelbarrow on Suffolk Street for the next three years or so, to make way for Luas track-laying at her old stomping-ground.
There’s Something About Molly though…
Something about her that seems to provoke a certain giddyness among Dubliners and tourists alike.
And there was a carnival atmosphere in town today, as a crowd of around 150 people stopped to watch Donohue do the honours — sweeping a large, utilitarian plastic covering off the ‘Tart with the Cart’ to reveal Molly 2.0 in all her glory.
She’s had a pretty extensive makeover since we last encountered her, you see.
After all, the poor dear has been been monging fish, rain or shine, at the same spot on College Green since 1988. A visit to the beauticians (or in this case, the metalworks) was well in order in advance of today’s curtain call.
The results were more than impressive, spectators agreed.
“Good as new,” a man in crowd smiled approvingly.
“Smashing” someone else remarked.
As you might expect, however, there was a slightly different tone amongst the cynics of the fourth estate — as it was remarked that who-ever had been given the job of burnishing the bronze seemed to have spent an inordinate amount of time focusing on one particular area.
The Minister might want to watch where he’s looking, a reporter suggested — as photographers snapped away in the vain hope that Donohoe might, in a moment of weakness, inadvertently cast his gaze towards Molly’s ample frontage.
Like Brian Hayes did, last time out…
[Pic: TheJournal.ie]
Thankfully, there were other distractions for the Minister to concern himself with…
Like the arrival on the scene of 5-year-old Dubliner Maya O’Mahony — apparently, straight out of central casting.
Surely this flame-haired whippersnapper must be working for the Department?
“No, absolutely not,” smiled the Minister’s press handler — as the young girl clambered up Molly’s wheelbarrow and plonked herself proudly amongst the cockles and mussels, providing providing the snappers with an unexpected, but welcome, dash of colour.
Source: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
The whole scene was utterly adorable, everyone agreed.
That is --- everyone apart from a certain couple from Killiney, who seemed determined to steal the limelight for themselves...
Clearly no match for Patricia Dolan and her husband in terms of pure, unadulterated star power --- Donohoe seemed happy to fulfil the rest of his obligations away from the action, as he retreated 30 feet or so down the road to answer reporters' questions on the serious issues of the day.
Molly will have to face the photographers all by herself from now on...
[TheJournal.ie]
Spare a thought for the poor woman next time you're in the area.
And try and avert your gaze.
Everyone knows what you're up to.
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