The live animal crib is set to return to Dublin in a new location from the 8th December, the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

The Summer House in St Stephen’s Green Park will house a donkey, a goat and two sheep as part of the annual Christmas tradition.

The crib had been located outside Dublin’s Mansion House since it began in 1995, until the Green Party Lord Mayor announced an end to the tradition.

In a statement today, the Irish Farmers Association said animal welfare is “paramount” and the shelter will be installed in line with the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council’s guidelines.

It said the animals will be tended to onsite every day by their owner and will return to their farm in Co Wicklow each afternoon.

Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Patrick O’Donovan, welcomed the announcement and said he is “standing up for tradition”.