This year I visited a different kind of crib, the difference being that there were no live animals – but figurines controlled by old mechanical pulleys, strings, wires and tiny engines.

Located under the St Martin Apostolate’s shop on Dublin’s Parnell Square, the biblical crib has been open since 1956. Made from 120 different figurines and 13 scenes from the Bible, it takes about 40 minutes in total to walk around.

For Darragh Murphy, general manager of The Moving Crib, the crib’s annual opening is continuing the beloved Christmas tradition of every generation. For him, it is his ‘gig’ to make everything work for its 69th year.

“Next year we're doing a big refurbishment for the crib’s 70th anniversary,” he told the Irish Independent.

He gave me a tour of the crib and explained that eve

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