Live animal nativity crib opens in Dublin

THE country’s farmers brought the message of Christmas to the people of Dublin yesterday with a traditional crib featuring live animals.

Set in a specially-constructed, life-size stable, it is the ninth year that the IFA crib has been erected in the Mansion House forecourt in the run-up to Christmas.

It is based on a similar crib, which has been a feature of Christmas in the Grande Place, in Brussels, for many years, and is meant as a gesture of goodwill from the farmers of Ireland to the people of Dublin.

IFA assistant general secretary Bryan Barry, who opened the crib yesterday, said it has become an established part of Christmas in Dublin and has grown in popularity, especially with children.

“The crib brings a little bit of the country into the heart of the city and allows children access to a variety of farm animals, which are brought to the location every morning and returned to a farm on the city outskirts in the evening.

“It also serves a very practical purpose in that the voluntary donations made by visitors to the crib go to the Lord Mayor’s Fuel Fund which helps a number of families throughout the city over the long winter months,” he said.

This is the ninth year of the nativity crib which will be open to the public from 10pm to 6pm daily until December 23.

Admission is free but to date over 90,000 has been raised for the Lord Mayor’s charity fund in voluntary donations, including €12,000 last year.

Dublin Lord Mayor Cllr Royston Brady was joined at the opening by IFA Farm Family Committee chairwoman Mary McGreal.

The crib, supported by Dawson Street traders, was again provided by the IFA and erected by Dublin City Council staff.