When she was just three-years-old, Siobhan Griffiths from Rialto in Dublin performed on the steps of the Mansion House on the official launch of the live crib 30 years ago.
This year, the proud mum was back at the event to proudly watch as her own daughter joined the other ‘Little Angels’ from St Joseph’s Nursery in the capital to sing with the Lucan Gospel Choir as the crib was officially opened.
The Nativity scene is a joint initiative of Dublin City Council and the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA).
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Siobhan Griffiths told the Irish Daily Mail ‘I had a great day, it’s a big family tradition for us. My mum worked at the nursery for 38 years, so all her children were angels at one stage or another. I remember we watched it each year because of my mam.’
On Wednesday, her three-year-old daughter Cherry Conway sang classic Christmas songs, including Jingle Bells and Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, with many of her family in full attendance.
Siobhan said ‘Cherry absolutely loved it. She loves to sing and be up front and centre. She’s not camera-shy at all.’ She added ‘My mam is retired now and my daughter got placed in St Joseph’s, so it’s nice to carry on the tradition. All my siblings’ kids perform as well so it’s very much a family affair.’
Thirty years later, the Dublin mother said not much has changed, bar the gifts from Santa Claus. She said ‘I remember seeing Santa and he gave me a Barbie doll, which was very exciting and a special day for me. When my daughter got her present from Santa it was a chocolate selection box.
‘I have a picture with my Barbie doll when I was three, and now I have one of my daughter at that age. It’s very nostalgic.
‘It’s a lovely tradition they have carried on, especially for the staff like my mam who worked there for so long, and the children, parents and the community.’
The crib was blessed by auxiliary Bishop of Dublin Most Rev Paul Dempsey and Rev Paul Arbuthnot at St Ann’s Church.
IFA president Francie Gorman said ‘This is my first year opening the live animal crib and I’m delighted to be here. It’s a special occasion to mark what is an enduring partnership between the Lord Mayor’s office, Dublin City Council and the IFA.
HE said ‘It’s a reminder of the work that farm families carry out every day of the year and I hope visitors to Dublin city centre take the time to and drop in between now and Christmas Eve.’
Cllr Donna Cooney, who has been acting as Lord Mayor since James Geoghegan was elected to the Dáil recently, said she’s enjoying her time in the role. ‘When the Lord Mayor was elected, I was asked if I could stand in. I was a little apprehensive, but it’s just a fabulous time of the year. I am a very Christmassy person,’ she said.
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