IFA’s Live Animal Crib proves a big hit with Dublin visitors

CROWDS have been flocking to the IFA’s Live Animal Crib, located at the forecourt of the Mansion House in Dublin.

The crib, featuring live animals, was launched this week by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Gerry Breen, and IFA President John Bryan. This is the 16th year of the IFA Live Animal Crib, provided by IFA and Dublin City Council, which to date has raised over €120,000 for the Lord Mayor’s Charity Fund.

John Bryan said: “The IFA Live Animal Crib has become an established part of Christmas in Dublin and had grown in popularity, especially with children. The Crib brings a part of the country into the heart of the city and allows children access to a variety of farm animals, which this year includes a donkey and newborn foal.

“It is a timely reminder about the importance of food production in this country, particularly given the difficulties associated with the ongoing freezing weather.”

The crib portrays the traditional nativity scene with live animals housed in a stable setting and is based on a similar Crib, which has been a feature of Christmas in the Grande Place, in Brussels for many years. The IFA Live Animal Crib is the only one of its kind in the country and is meant as a gesture of goodwill from farmers to the people of Dublin as they celebrate Christmas.

This unique event in the centre of Dublin will be open to the public outside the Mansion House until Friday, December 24, from 11am to 6pm daily. Admission is free.

The Live Crib consists of a traditional nativity scene set among live animals in a specially constructed, life size stable. The animals are brought to the crib every morning and are returned to a farm on the outskirts of the city in the evening. Children from St Joseph’s Nursery, Maryland, Dublin, sang at the opening.