IN THE FRAME 188
Dancing Mary
Tony Murray
“Mary Dunne (aka Dancing Mary) was a well-known, eccentric, Dublin character during the 1980s and the 1990s.
Regarded as an elegant and dignified lady, she is remembered by generations of Dubliners for her warm smile and fervent religious beliefs.
She frequently sang hymns and danced in a circle while holding rosary beads or holy pictures on O’Connell Street.
The unofficial shrine to the Blessed Virgin, close to where Mary danced and prayed on Dublin’s O’Connell Street, became a meeting point for many conservative Catholics and pro-life activists.
It was not uncommon for people to argue with or make fun of Mary as she went about her activities.”
Taken from Holy Pictures, Tony Murray’s vivid images from the 1970s and 1980s capture the last vestiges of popular devotional practices once widespread in Ireland.
Published by Hi Tone Books, €30
