Live animal crib makes return at new location in Dublin

Dublin’s live animal crib is to return this year but in a new location (PA)

Dublin's live crib will be relocated to St Stephen's Green this year after OPW Minister Patrick O'Donovan intervened to ensure the Christmas tradition is not "thrown under a bus".

Dublin's Lord Mayor and Green Party Councillor Caroline Conroy sparked outrage after she announced that she was cancelling the live crib outside the Mansion House, which had become a beloved institution for many families since it was first installed in 1995.

However, the OPW has now found an alternative site close by and the crib, featuring a donkey, two sheep, and a goat, will be located at the Summer House in St Stephen’s Green Park.

Speaking about the move, Mr O'Donovan said: “I know that in some quarters at the moment it’s easy to throw traditions under the bus, but the crib is a very important part of the traditional Christmas and in that crib scene there were animals, the animals that will be brought here by the Sherlock family will be well looked after."

He said: “This is about me standing up for my way of life, the people I represent, rural Ireland, farmers and as well as the children of Dublin who want to see a live crib and when the IFA reached out to us, the vast majority of people value tradition and value the Christmas message and they value the crib."

Mr O'Donovan told RTÉ's Claire Byrne programme that he felt the need to say, "hold on a second" after it was announced that the live crib was being axed as "the next thing that will be ditched in this country will probably be the word Christmas".

He added that the life-sized crib "respects the values of the farming community up and down the country who look after their animals, who make sure they’re properly protected and who, in many cases are part of the family.

“As somebody from the heart of rural Ireland this is my bread and butter and what I believe in," he added.

The alternative location was agreed following discussions with the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA).

In a statement, the OPW said animal welfare is paramount and the shelter in the Summer House will be installed in line with the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council’s guidelines. The animals will be tended to onsite every day by their owner and will return to their farm in Wicklow each afternoon from December 8. Members of the public will not be able to enter the Summer House, but will be able to see the Live Crib from the external rails.

IFA president Tim Cullinan said: “The Live Animal Crib is a central part of the pre-Christmas experience in Dublin. It also allows children to see animals in a traditional Nativity scene. The Crib also serves to bring rural and urban communities together."