Molly Malone

     The legend of Molly Malone is a story about a young girl, Molly Malone. The story comes from an old Irish song. According to the song, she would be a pretty fishmonger, who was selling fishes in the street of Dublin, during the XVII^th. She died young because of a strong fever. The legend began in 1880, when the Molly Malone's Song (also known as Cockles and Mussels) was heard everywhere in the street of Dublin. It was inescapable in Irish Pub. Years after years, the song became more and more famous and the legend grew up. Nowadays, Molly Malone is the symbolic character of the city. The song is so famous that it's the unofficial Dublin's anthem, and the supporters of the Ireland rugby team often sing this song during the competitions. Everybody knows it ! A statue of this young girl can even be seen in Grafton Street, in the center of Dublin. It dates back to 1988 and was designed by Jeanne Rynhart. It was erected to celebrate the city's first millennium. The statue is nicknamed "The Dish With The Fish" or "The Tart with the Cart".

The statue in the center of Dublin, designed by Jeanne Rynhart

     However, we still don't know if this woman has really existed. Indeed, in the XIX^th century, a rumor grew up that there was a historical Molly. Many Irish pretended to have her birth and death certificate. But Molly Malone was a common name, especially in the XVII^th century, because the name "Molly" originated as the familiar version of the names Mary and Margaret. Therefore, a lot of Molly Malone lived in the XVII^th century, but they are not corresponding to the events in the song. Nevertheless, there is a Molly Malone's day on the 13^th of June, at the date of her supposed death (on the 13^th of June, 1699).

A picture of Molly Malone

     Many singers and music bands have interpreted this song, including U2, Franz Harte, Paul Harrington, Sinéad O'Connor, but the best known version is from The Dubliners, a famous Irish band.

     

Molly Malone by The dubliner's

Hope you will enjoy the other interpretations by clicking on the name of the artists !

The lyrics are :

Verse

In Dublin’s fair city,

where the girls are so pretty,

I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone,

As she wheeled her wheel-barrow,

Through streets broad and narrow,

Crying, « Cockles and mussels, alive alive oh! »

Chorus

Alive-a-live-oh, Alive-a-live-oh,

Crying « Cockles and mussels, alive alive oh »

Verse

She was a fishmonger,

And sure ’twas no wonder,

For so were her father and mother before,

And they both wheeled their barrow,

Through streets broad and narrow,

Crying, « Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh! »

Chorus

Alive-a-live-oh, Alive-a-live-oh,

Crying « Cockles and mussels, alive alive oh »

Verse

She died of a fever,

And no one could save her,

And that was the end of my sweet Molly Malone.

Now her ghost wheels her barrow,

Through streets broad and narrow,

Crying, « Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh! »

Chorus

Alive-a-live-oh, Alive-a-live-oh,

Crying « Cockles and mussels, alive alive oh »

Questions :

1. Who was Molly Malone ?
2. In which city does the story take place ?
3. When is the Molly Malone's day ?

By Vic and Mathilde !                   .