#384 Perky Problem or Public Nuisance? Molly Malone Gets Supervised

The Niall Boylan Podcast (They Told Me To Shut Up)

In this episode, Niall asks: Is it really inappropriate to touch the statue of Molly Malone, or are Dublin City Council overreacting by hiring supervisors to stop tourists from doing it?

The discussion follows a new move by the Council to station staff near the iconic statue after concerns were raised about tourists fondling the statue’s bronze breasts for selfies. The so-called “Tart with the Cart” has long been a popular photo op on Grafton Street, but officials now argue the statue is being treated in a disrespectful and overly sexualised manner. Critics, however, say it's political correctness gone mad—and a waste of money.

Some callers think absolutely, it’s inappropriate. That statue represents a part of Irish history and culture, and constantly grabbing her chest is just plain disrespectful. Tourists wouldn’t do that to a statue of a male figure, so why is it okay here? Hiring someone to protect it might seem silly, but maybe it’s what’s needed. One caller said it’s embarrassing—we’re known for our craic, but this crosses a line. It’s not funny anymore when every tourist feels the need to grope a statue for a photo. It’s degrading, and the council is right to step in.

While other callers feel it’s a bit of harmless fun. Tourists have been doing this for years and nobody was offended until recently. It’s not done with any malice. Spending public money on supervisors for a statue is ridiculous. Others said we’ve far bigger problems in Dublin than people touching Molly Malone. Save the money and focus on housing or cleaning the streets instead of policing a bronze chest.

Niall concludes by acknowledging how something seemingly light-hearted like a tourist attraction can spark a deeper conversation about respect, cultural preservation, and whether we’ve lost the run of ourselves with public money. Is this about dignity, or are we just being killjoys?