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File photo: Bonnie Devereux Lynch, aged 4, visits the live crib in 2018. RollingNews.ie

Scrapping of Mansion House live crib a 'progressive step', says animal rights group

Councillors and TDs from across the political spectrum have criticised the move by Dublin’s Lord Mayor.

AN ANIMAL RIGHTS group has criticised the “hysteria” surrounding the axing of the live crib at Dublin’s Mansion House, which it welcomes.

The National Animal Rights Association (NARA) said the end of the three-decade-old annual tradition was a “progressive step for animal rights.”

Green Party Councillor Claire Byrne, sharing the group’s statement on Twitter today, said she fully supported the decision.

Byrne wrote: “Next year will be a Fianna Fáil Mayor and they can bring back dancing monkeys and put a real baby in the live crib or whatever they and Fine Gael think defines Christmas.”

The statement, from NARA spokesperson Laura Broxson, said: “Not using animals for entertainment is something that should be welcomed by all as a more compassionate way to mark the festive season.”

“We have been objecting to the ‘live crib’ for over a decade. Farm animals do not belong in Dublin City Centre.”

“They’re put in an enclosure, on display, where they have no space to get away from people. They are surrounded by lights, noise and hundreds of people staring at them. In 2022, it’s not an acceptable way to celebrate Christmas.

“Despite the hysteria that has been encouraged by certain radio stations and newspapers, we are confident that the majority of people in Ireland don’t find looking at animals trapped in a shed the highlight of their Christmas.”

Government minister Patrick O’Donovan is working to find a new location for the live crib.

The Minister of Office of Public Works, along with a number of Fine Gael councillors, are working on reversing what has been described as a “Grinch-like decision” to cancel the crib this Christmas.

O’Donovan said he will be working with the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) on a new location for the crib which attracts thousands of children and their families every Christmas in Dublin.

The IFA worked in conjunction with Dublin City Council each year to organise the live crib.

00076580 File photo of children petting a llama at the live crib Graham Hughes / Photocall Ireland! Graham Hughes / Photocall Ireland! / Photocall Ireland!

Fine Gael will be putting forward an emergency motion for next month’s council meeting that the crib be reinstated.

Dublin’s Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy told RTÉ’s News at One last week that she wanted to have something more “fun” and “inclusive” outside the Mansion House this year.

She said the decision stands, and work is underway to have choirs outside, as well as a Christmas sleigh where children can get photos and post their Santa letters through a post box.

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    Mute Optimus Prime
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    Apr 2nd 2020, 8:50 AM

    CV-19 is claiming a lot of people and talents. What an era in human history. Sad days ahead when we finally count our dead. :-(

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    Mute Gareth Miskelly
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    Apr 2nd 2020, 8:50 AM

    RIP. Hugely talented, Fountains of Wayne have some great songs and albums, welcome interstate managers is a cracker!

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    Mute Owen Merne
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    Apr 2nd 2020, 9:21 AM

    We should all play Staceys Mom.. definitely a throwback tune, to honour the memory of the man.

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    Mute John Hazelnut
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    Apr 2nd 2020, 10:18 AM

    @Rochey77: Moderate your language, I, too thought Stacey’s Mom was a song.

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    Mute Damien
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    Apr 2nd 2020, 10:23 AM

    @Rochey77: The actress that played stacey’s mom was married to mini me from Austin powers.

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    Mute King B
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    Apr 2nd 2020, 11:23 AM

    @Damien: no she wasn’t, she was married to Rod Stewart and she’s still alive? Am I missing something or is this thread just full of inaccuracies?

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    Mute John Horan
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    Apr 2nd 2020, 11:42 AM

    @Damien: Stacys Mom…..https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Hunter

    Very much alive and kicking

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    Mute Damien
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    Apr 2nd 2020, 3:16 PM

    @King B: oops. Got that one mixed up

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    Mute King B
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    Apr 2nd 2020, 5:35 PM

    @Damien: no worries bud, either way I’m sure we can agree that Stacey’s mom most definitely had it going on.

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    Mute Peter Leonard
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    Apr 2nd 2020, 10:44 AM

    The elephant in the room when it comes to Covid19 deaths is he was a lifetime smoker, which is an underlying condition. RIP.

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    Mute Jazz Buckler
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    Apr 2nd 2020, 11:01 AM

    @Peter Leonard: being a smoker isn’t an “underlying condition” though is it?

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    Mute John Horan
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    Apr 2nd 2020, 11:40 AM
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    Mute Brian Mc Cabe
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    Apr 2nd 2020, 11:41 AM

    @Jazz Buckler: no, but buggered lungs from a lifetime of it is, or are you taking the smoking industry line on this?

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    Mute Peter Leonard
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    Apr 2nd 2020, 1:59 PM

    @Jazz Buckler: I’m sure the virus might not care if it’s a condition or not. Alcoholism is a disease, Smoking is also a disease.. whatever way it’s spun that it’s a human right or something like that. it’s a condition and a reason why so many young people are dead in Italy and Spain.

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    Mute Craic_a_tower
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    Apr 2nd 2020, 9:53 AM

    I thought 2016 was bad for artists dying this is going to blow that out of the water.

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    Mute Aisling
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    Apr 2nd 2020, 10:22 AM

    Crazy ex girlfriend would not have been the same without this guy, such a talented music writer.

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    Mute Stan Kowalskis
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    Apr 2nd 2020, 9:36 AM

    One~der……..hanks is still high on meds.

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    Mute Y U no spell good?
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    Apr 2nd 2020, 9:53 AM

    @Stan Kowalskis: read the article, that was the name of a band in a movie they were both involved in. How’s your prescription?

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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Apr 2nd 2020, 9:57 AM

    @Stan Kowalskis: watch the movie, its really good!

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    Mute Steven Hayes
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    Apr 2nd 2020, 12:22 PM

    Schlesinger wasn’t the singer he was the bass player/songwriter. Do your research!

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