“Grinch” Greens have been slammed by their Government colleagues in Fine Gael for their “Scrooge” tactics in cancelling the famous live Nativity crib in Dublin city centre.
The live crib is one of the most popular Christmas attractions in the Capital every year, with many city children enjoying seeing real farm animals for the first time in their lives.
The crib is constructed every year at its traditional location outside the Mansion House, the Lord Mayor’s official residence.
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But this year the crib has been cancelled by Dublin city’s Green Lord Mayor, Caroline Conroy, on animal welfare grounds.
However, senior Fine Gael figures, including junior minister Patrick O’Donovan, have spoken out and want to ‘save the crib’ this year.
The party’s leader on Dublin City Council, Cllr James Geoghegan will put forward a motion for next month’s council meeting on November 7th that the crib, which has been outside the Mansion House on Dawson Street since 1995, be relocated elsewhere in the capital.
OPW (Office of Public Works) junior minister, Mr O’Donovan, said: “Children suffered enough over the last two years having to live with Covid and wondering would Santa and Rudolph manage to get to their homes with lockdowns and restrictions. Let them enjoy this Christmas.
“Let’s have a Nativity crib in the capital city for all children to visit.
“There cannot be a scrooge like agenda from any council for children at Christmas time.
“I’ll be working with my Fine Gael colleagues and all councillors on Dublin City Council to save the crib.
“They’re banning donkeys and sheep from outside the Mansion House but there simply has to be room elsewhere for them this Christmas.”
Cllr Geoghegan said: “Not even the Grinch would ban this loved Christmas tradition.
“We have to overturn this and look for a new location – perhaps St Stephen’s Green.
“We know times are tough so we want to ensure children and their families have a Christmas crib to visit in Dublin.
“The Lord Mayor of Dublin has decided after 27 years to cancel the live animal crib outside Dublin’s Mansion House.
“Fine Gael councillors will submit an emergency motion to force a U-turn on this decision.
“There has been no public debate on this issue whatsoever and it is not appropriate that this decision was taken by the Lord Mayor behind a closed-door meeting of councillors.
“The next Dublin City Council meeting is on the 7th of November, and we will be submitting an emergency motion to overturn this decision.
“We are calling on the Lord Mayor to allow preparations for the live crib to continue until all elected members of Dublin City Council have had their say.
“I have contacted Minister O’Donovan to see what could be facilitated and we will be working together to save the Nativity crib. St Stephen’s Green, if possible, would be a fine location.”
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