Alive, alive oh no.
The iconic Molly Malone statue in Dublin city centre has been painted by vandals overnight.
The statue located on Suffolk Street on the south side of the city, which hordes of tourists flock to see daily, had its chest covered in black paint.
In a statement, Dublin City Council confirmed the vandalisation, saying they will be "removing the paint as soon as possible."
No clear motive for Molly Malone vandalism
There is no clear motive for the attack, however a council source told the
Irish Independent it was different in character from repeated attacks on street art featuring the legendary Dubliners vocalist Luke Kelly.
The Molly Malone, statue, known colloquially as "the tart with the cart", was unveiled on Grafton Street in 1988 during the Dublin Millennium celebrations. In 2014, the statue was relocated to Suffolk Street to make way for the Luas track.
The statue is based off a famous song about a fictional 17th century fishwife, who plied her tried "selling cockles and mussels" in the city. Many tourists rub the statue's bosom area for luck, which has led to the part becoming discoloured.
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