Alleged sighting of a lion in Co Clare investigated by gardai

"Garda headquarters confirmed in a statement: "Gardaí received report of a large animal in a wooded area in Co. Clare on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Enquiries were carried out." It is understood that the report was made to gardaí in "good faith" but that investigators could not find any trace of the large animal depicted in the video. The footage appears to have been taken by a truck driver. Sources say "it might appear to resemble a lion" but that there is "no evidence" that it was."

""Gardai are aware of the video. We do not believe there's a lion stalking the woodlands of Co Clare, or that there is a lion escaped from the zoo. People shouldn't be afraid to go to the woods and everyone should sleep easy tonight - the chances of a lion attack on any member of the public this weekend is extremely remote," according to a source. There is one case in Irish history where a lion was on the loose in Ireland and attacked a member of the public. In 1951, an escaped lion in Dublin attacked a teenager."

Gardaí received a report of a large animal in a wooded area in Co. Clare on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, and carried out enquiries. Investigators could not find any trace of the animal depicted in the video. The footage appears to have been taken by a truck driver, and sources say it might appear to resemble a lion but that there is no evidence it was one. Gardai said they do not believe a lion is stalking the woodlands or that an escaped zoo animal is involved, and described the chance of an attack as extremely remote. A 1951 incident in Dublin involved an escaped lioness that mauled a teenager before being shot.

Read at Irish Independent