Real Molly Malone Research Paper
Molly Malone is the mysterious heroine of the famous song of the same name widely recognised as Dublin’s unofficial anthem. She is so strongly associated with the city that she was immortalised in bronze as part of the 1988 Dublin Millennium celebrations. Though regularly upheld as a traditional Irish ballad, it is not known for certain where the song originated, or whether a real Molly Malone ever existed.
According to the lyrics of the undeniably catchy tune – also known as ‘Cockles and Mussels’ – Molly was a young and beautiful fishmonger who sold her yield from a cart on the streets of Dublin. After dying of a fever she is said in the song’s final verse to continue to haunt the city.
Although set in Ireland’s capital and beloved by …show more content…
This more risqué version describes Molly as living in the north Dublin fishing village of Howth. It recounts the singer’s yearning to share her bed, contributing to widespread speculation that the song’s leading lady worked as both a street vendor and a prostitute.
In spite of her international fame Molly Malone remains something of an enigma. A popular figure in Irish lore, she made the transition to urban legend towards the end of the 20th century, when claims she was a real person who lived in the 17th century became popularised. After a Mary Malone (the name Molly derives from Mary or Margaret) was discovered to have died in Dublin on June 13th 1699, the day was joyously named Molly Malone Day by the Dublin Millennium Commission, and in 1988 the statue of her was unveiled.
Created by the Irish sculptor Jeanne Rynhart it depicts her in traditional but revealing 17th century dress, hinting at her supposed part-time prostitution and leading her to be colloquially christened ‘the tart with the cart’. The buxom statue has since gone on to become one of Dublin’s most recognisable monuments, attracting hordes of tourists daily. Originally erected at the bottom of Grafton Street, in 2014 it was temporarily moved to the adjoining Suffolk Street to make way for the extension of the Luas tram
According to the lyrics of the undeniably catchy tune – also known as ‘Cockles and Mussels’ – Molly was a young and beautiful fishmonger who sold her yield from a cart on the streets of Dublin. After dying of a fever she is said in the song’s final verse to continue to haunt the city.
Although set in Ireland’s capital and beloved by …show more content…
This more risqué version describes Molly as living in the north Dublin fishing village of Howth. It recounts the singer’s yearning to share her bed, contributing to widespread speculation that the song’s leading lady worked as both a street vendor and a prostitute.
In spite of her international fame Molly Malone remains something of an enigma. A popular figure in Irish lore, she made the transition to urban legend towards the end of the 20th century, when claims she was a real person who lived in the 17th century became popularised. After a Mary Malone (the name Molly derives from Mary or Margaret) was discovered to have died in Dublin on June 13th 1699, the day was joyously named Molly Malone Day by the Dublin Millennium Commission, and in 1988 the statue of her was unveiled.
Created by the Irish sculptor Jeanne Rynhart it depicts her in traditional but revealing 17th century dress, hinting at her supposed part-time prostitution and leading her to be colloquially christened ‘the tart with the cart’. The buxom statue has since gone on to become one of Dublin’s most recognisable monuments, attracting hordes of tourists daily. Originally erected at the bottom of Grafton Street, in 2014 it was temporarily moved to the adjoining Suffolk Street to make way for the extension of the Luas tram