Stewards employed by Dublin City Council are set to start patrolling around the city’s famous Molly Malone statue in a bid to stop people ‘groping’ and damaging the bronze figure.
The statue, which was designed by local artist Jeann Rynhart, was first unveiled in 1988 on Grafton Street as part of the city’s millennium celebrations.
Depicting the fictional fishmonger referenced in the well-known song ‘In Dublin’s Fair City’, the statue of Molly Malone was later moved to Suffolk Street in 2014 to make way for the Luas line.
More: DUP minister ‘more than happy’ to attend Fleadh in Belfast
The tradition of rubbing the breasts of the statue for good luck, believed to have started around 2012, has resulted in its discolouring over time.
The ‘Leave Molly mAlone’ campaign was started by singer Tilly Cripwell in response to the practice, calling for greater respect towards the statue.
She said the council had agreed to “fully restore” the statue to its original state and to deploy a steward system on a pilot basis to “actively prevent groping of the statue” and further damage.
The stewards will have a similar role to those hired to patrol the Dublin portal last year.
Dublin City Council Arts Officer Ray Yeates said that the practice had caused “disquiet and upset” and that he had concerns about the safety of people perching on the plinth.
Campaigner Ms Cripwell said she was “thrilled” with the progress.
“It is a great representation of how community action, responsible tourism and heritage conservation can come together to safeguard the city’s cultural treasures and values,” she said.
“I hope that it brings further positive representation of women in culture, leading to good examples around treatment of women on a broader social level.”