Rubbing statues

Sir, – Frank McNally’s reflections on certain parts of statues being rubbed (An Irishman’s Diary, April 13th) might have included the statue of John Harvard in the square of the university named after him. By day, tourists rub his shiny left foot to encourage luck, and at night students pee on him as a rite of initiation! – Yours, etc,

ENDA CULLEN,

Armagh.

Sir, – I couldn’t possibly comment on the alleged benefits of massaging Molly Malone’s “assets” but I can’t help thinking that it would be slightly more hygienic than kissing a certain stone in the south of the country. – Yours, etc,

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JOHN K ROGERS,

Westmeath.