The IFA Live Animal Crib has been opened at the Mansion House in Dublin.

Due to pandemic restrictions people can view the animals only through enlarged windows at the front of the crib this year.

“I was determined the crib would be back,” said Lord Mayor Hazel Chu. “It is 25 years since it was first launched and in that time it has become a Dublin tradition.”

She also announced that on Christmas Day she and Knights of St Columbanus will serve dinners to the homeless at the Mansion House forecourt and garden as the RDS is not available due to Covid-19. Dinners will also be delivered to people around the city.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday of this week, a series of inter-faith gatherings to celebrate religious festivals missed during 2020 began at the Lord Mayor’s garden near the Mansion House

Rewind 2020, organised by the Dublin City Interfaith Forum, will continue until December 14th with each day dedicated to a different faith.

Beginning at 1pm each afternoon, faith communities taking part will include Buddhists, Sikhs, Jews, Hindus, Baha’i’s, Muslims, and Christians. Covid-19 guidelines are being strictly adhered to with attendance limited to 15.