Replica of Dublin’s Molly Malone unveiled in Boston – The Irish Times
In the US, a replica of the famous Molly Malone statue was made in Dublin and unveiled in Boston.
The statue, which stands outside the Dublin Pub at Center Plaza in Boston, is a bronze replica of the statue on Suffolk Street, which is a popular tourist attraction.
Pub owners Orán McGonagle, originally from Co Donegal, and Dubliner William McCarthy said they wanted to give a “nod” to the famous Dublin statue and “chat and joke” about its history.
The couple bought the space, then known as The Kinsale, last year and wanted to bring “true Irish heritage and authenticity” to their pub opposite Boston City Hall.
“We believe it is the only life-size replica in the world,” McGonagle said.
The statue was created by a Texas-based sculptor after bar owners sent him photos of the original. First, a clay replica was made and the sculptor then moved on to casting the statue in bronze.
Mr McGonagle said the statue was on the pub’s grounds and did not require permission from local Boston authorities. He said the couple were worried Molly could become a target for vandals, as was the case with the original in Dublin.
“Luckily this didn’t happen to our statue here, but we are worried about it,” he added.
Dublin City Council is liaising with gardaí over the defacement of the original Molly Malone statue, which was attacked five times in three months. Finally, the words “Don’t Touch Me” were written in pink chalk on the base of the statue.
The statue of the famous street vendor and her wheelbarrow, designed by Jeanne Rynhart, was originally unveiled at the end of Grafton Street during Dublin’s 1988 Millennium celebrations. It was moved to Suffolk Street during the Luas works in 2014.
