Live nativity crib brings the country to the city
Provided by the Irish Farmers’ Association and the city council, the crib portrays a traditional nativity scene set among live animals in a specially constructed, life-sized stable.
Donkeys, sheep and goats are brought in each morning and returned to a farm on the outskirts of the city each evening.
Staff from the city council’s Cherry Orchard Housing Maintenance Depot designed this life-size stable.
Thousands of people are expected to visit the crib between now and Christmas Eve.
Admission is free. But last year more than €11,000 was raised for the lord mayor’s fuel fund from voluntary donations.
It is the 13th year of the IFA Live Animal Crib, which has to date raised about €120,000 for the lord mayor’s charity fund.
IFA president Pádraig Walshe and the current lord mayor Cllr Paddy Bourke jointly opened the crib, which is similar to one that has been featured for many years in the Grand Place, Brussels.
Mr Walshe said the crib has become an established part of Christmas in Dublin.
“The crib brings a part of the country into the heart of the city and allows children access to a variety of farm animals.
“It plays an important part in helping to raise funds for the lord mayor’s charities and serves as a reminder for families about the importance of food production in this country,” he said.
Mr Walshe said great credit is due to the staff of Dublin City Council for the imaginative design of this year’s crib.
Lord mayor Bourke urged everybody who comes into the city over the Christmas period to take the opportunity to visit the crib at the Mansion House.
He said were it not for the support of the IFA the citizens of Dublin would not be able to experience aspects of the countryside in a simple, traditional nativity scene.
Children from St Joseph’s Nursery, Maryland, Dublin 8, sang at the opening.
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