When you visit Dublin, you will find Molly Malone is the most talked about woman in the city. They mention her at the Irish Rock 'n’ Roll Museum and on Sandemans’ New Dublin free walking tour. They talk about her on the Dublin by Night Tour. There is even a statue of her on Suffolk Street in Dublin City, but who is Molly Malone? Is she a factual person or just a fictional character in a song?
The popular Irish song, Molly Malone, also known as Cockles and Mussels. In the song, Molly walked the streets of Dublin, continuing the family trade of selling fish from her wheelbarrow and singing as she went. She died of a fever and it is said her ghost haunts the city to this day.
She has been linked to origin stories from England, Scotland, and the United States. Several accounts have been told about a Molly or Mary Malone born in Dublin in the 17th century. One story speaks of a Mary Malone baptized and buried at St. John’s Church on Suffolk Street, but many allege she never existed. Molly became an urban legend. They say if you rub her cleavage, it will bring you good luck. In typical Irish fashion, Dubliners have given her a few nicknames, the tart with the cart, the dolly with the trolley, and the dish with the fish.
Even though there doesn’t seem to be definitive evidence that Molly Malone was an actual person, in 1988 they erected a bronze statue in her honor. The monument has since been voted Ireland’s most popular landmark. We may never resolve the mystery of Molly Malone, but the song about her is a standard sung in sports arenas, concert halls and pubs throughout Ireland. It has even been featured in movies and television shows. Cockles & Mussels has become the unofficial anthem of Dublin as it has been covered by popular Irish performers such as The Dubliners, Sinead O'Connor and U2.
Lyrics to Molly Malone
In Dublin’s fair city,
Where the girls are so pretty,
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone,
As she wheeled her wheelbarrow,
Through streets broad and narrow,
Crying, “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!”
Alive, alive, oh,
Alive, alive, oh,
Crying, “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh”.
She was a fishmonger,
But sure 'twas no wonder,
So were her father and mother before,
And they all wheeled their barrows,
Through streets broad and narrow,
Crying, “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!"
(chorus)
She died of a fever,
And no one could save her,
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone.
Now her ghost wheels her barrow,
Through streets broad and narrow,
Crying, “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!”
(chorus)x2