A viral video showing what appeared to be a lion roaming woods in eastern County Clare turned out to feature a freshly groomed Newfoundland dog. Gardaí in Killaloe launched an investigation after truck driver John O’Reilly captured footage of the mysterious animal. “The animal had been seen before by harvesters working on the site, but it was from a distance, moving through the trees. We assumed it was a deer before the video was captured,” O’Reilly told CorkBeo. Police announced Tuesday they had identified the creature. “Turns out it was just a very committed Newfoundland dog with a fresh haircut,” Gardaí wrote on social media. Officers revealed the “very friendly” dog is named Mouse and “is delighted with his recent viral video clip.” (Story URL)
‘Lion’ On The Loose In Ireland Was A Big Dog ‘With A Fresh Haircut’
Nov 5, 2025 | 7:02 PM