A live animal crib opened at the Mansion House on December 8, the
feast of the Immaculate Conception and a traditional day when country
people go to town for Christmas shopping.
“The IFA Live Animal Crib has become an established part of Christmas
in Dublin and has grown in popularity, especially with children. The
Crib brings a part of the country into the heart of the city and allows
children access to a variety of farm animals, which include a donkey and
new-born foal this year.”
“It is a timely reminder about the importance of food production in
this country, particularly given the difficulties associated with the
on-going freezing weather," said John Bryan, Irish Farmers Association
(IFA) President.
Present at the opening of the crib at the forecourt of the Mansion
House, Dawson Street, Dublin was Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Gerry Breen
and children from St. Joseph’s Nursery, Maryland, Dublin 8 who provided
the music.
This is the sixteenth year of the Live Animal Crib, provided by IFA
and Dublin City Council that to date has raised over €120,000 for the
Lord Mayor’s Charity Fund.
It is the only one of its kind in the
country and is meant as a gesture of goodwill from the farmers of
Ireland to the people of Dublin, as they celebrate Christmas.
The Crib portrays the traditional nativity scene with live animals
housed in a specially constructed, life-size stable.
The animals are
brought to the Crib every morning and are returned to a farm on the
outskirts of the city in the evening.
It is based on a similar crib, which has been a feature of Christmas
in the Grande Place, in Brussels for many years.
As part of that city’s
Winter Wonders during the Christmas festivities, there is a crib beside
the Christmas tree on the Grande Place.
The crib, which includes live sheep, has a straw roof and is lit 24
hours a day.
The Christmas tree comes from Germany and reaches a height
of 18 meters.
There is also a Christmas market, fairground and ice rink for skating among many attractions in the Grande Place.
The Irish crib is open to the public outside the Mansion House from until Christmas Eve from 11:00am to 6:00pm daily.
Admission is
free.
SIC: CIN/IE