An animal rights group has described Dublin city's live animal crib as archaic and inappropriate.
The National Animal Rights Association says it's disappointed Fine Gael undermined the Lord Mayor's decision not to go ahead with the Christmas tradition outside the Mansion House this year.
The IFA and OPW have since announced an alternative live crib for St Stephen's Green that will be open to the public from Thursday.
However NARA spokesperson Laura Broxson says it shouldn't be repeated again next year;
"Putting live animals in an enclosure does nothing to evoke the ‘Christmas spirit’ and in 2022 we should be beyond using animals as inanimate props for entertainment."
