Live farm animals have arrived in St Stephen’s Green as part of a ‘rival’ crib to the Lord Mayor’s own Nativity scene outside the Mansion House in Dublin.
The IFA (Irish Farmers Association) and OPW Minister Patrick O’Donovan officially opened the live crib on Thursday morning, the traditional start of the Christmas season for rural communities.
Green Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy caused public uproar when she announced last month that the traditional crib outside the Mayor’s ceremonial home, the Mansion House, would have no live animals this year on animal welfare grounds.
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The Christmas scene on Dawson Street has had donkeys, sheep and goats every year it was open since 1995, but this year there were no animals included in the presentation when it opened last Friday night.
Mr O’Donovan and the IFA President Tim Cullinan performed the official opening at the Summer House in St Stephen’s Green on Thursday morning.
The crib will be open to the public every day during daylight hours until December 22.
Farmer Fionn Sherlock is carrying on the tradition of his grandfather John and his granduncle Joe Gallagher in supplying animals since the custom of the Live Animal Crib began in 1995.
The Summer House is a National Historic Property in the care of the OPW, and is located on the north-eastern side of the Green (near Kildare Street).
The animals will be tended to onsite every day by their owner and will return to their farm in Wicklow each afternoon.
A spokesman for the IFA said: “Animal welfare is paramount and the shelter in the Summer House has been installed in line with the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council’s Guidelines.”
The Dean of Christchurch Rev Dermot Dunne and Father Gary Chamberland from the Notre Dame-Newman Centre performed an official blessing at the crib opening.
Children from the YMCA crèche on Aungier St dressed up as angels and joined in song with the Lucan Gospel Choir.
Minister O’Donovan said: “We were happy to work with the IFA to help find a new home for the Crib and to ensure the continuation of this lovely family tradition in our capital city.
“It offers an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the nativity story over the next few weeks and I hope families will come and enjoy this and the other wonderful festive activities organised in the city this winter.”
IFA President Tim Cullinan encouraged families to come and visit the Crib between now and December 22.
He said: “We chose today to open the Crib as it signifies the connection between rural and urban communities. The Live Animal Crib is a gift from the farmers of Ireland to the people of Dublin.
“It’s a wonderful part of the tradition in Dublin before Christmas. It’s worth taking a few minutes away from the bustling streets to the calm of St Stephen’s Green to see the Crib and Nativity scene.”
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