A Green Party councillor has said the move to ban the live crib at the Mansion House is a step forward for animal rights.
Cllr Claire Byrne wrote a statement in conjunction with the National Animal Rights Organisation (NARO) outlining her approval for the highly controversial ban. The representative argued that using animals for entertainment purposes was no longer acceptable and said that the ban was being heavily politicised.
The decision has been slammed by many politicians and members of the public alike. Fine Gael intends to put forward an emergency motion on the issue at next month’s council meeting.
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She said: “Next year will be a Fianna Fail party mayor and they can bring back dancing monkeys, put a real monkey in the crib, or whatever they and Fine Gael think defines Christmas.”
The decision by Dublin’s Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy to remove the decades long tradition on Dawson Street has fuelled massive debate. The Irish Farmers Association, who oversee the annual crib, spoke to the Lord Mayor on Sunday about the move.
Several politicians, including Minister of Office for Public Works Patrick O’ Donovan, have argued that the ban will take joy away from children who have already endured enough restrictions due to Covid-19. The Fine Gael TD is attempting to secure another location for the live crib ahead of the festive season.
NARO states they have been working for over a decade to bring this measure into effect. Some people continued to voice their support for the decision online despite the backlash, saying that the annual tradition was a form of cruelty towards farmyard animals.
One person wrote: “If you want to see farm animals, just take a drive down the country where there are plenty of them rambling about FREE in fields. I could never believe the amount of people who crowded around the crib.”
The free attraction was run for years by Dublin City Council through their partnership with the Irish Farmers Association. Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy previously told RTE she would instate alternative traditions this year for children, including a potential winter sleigh and a postbox for children to submit their Santa letters to.
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