Right behind me, painted onto the side of a street cabinet, is the Cairbre the Lion Mural. The mural is a tribute to a Dublin-born lion who later became famous worldwide as the mascot of MGM Studios. It was created by Dublin artist Kevin O’Brien.
This is the story of Cairbre, a lion born in Dublin Zoo in 1919. He wasn’t just any lion, however. Cairbre went on to become the seventh lion to grace the MGM Studios logo, affectionately nicknamed ‘Leo the Lion’. Even more remarkable, Cairbre was the first lion to roar for MGM. Before him, the lions in the logo were only seen looking around. It’s kind of ironic that a lion from Dublin Zoo ended up being the face of a major American film studio.
Even if Cairbre wasn’t the first MGM lion, he’s still a big deal! He starred in countless MGM films since 1927. Films like “Ben-Hur”, “Mutiny on the Bounty”, “2001: A Space Odyssey”, and “Skyfall” all began with Cairbre’s roar.
When “talkies” (sound movies) came in, Cairbre got replaced by another lion because he didn’t roar. Unfortunately, Cairbre died in 1936 at the age of 17. But his legacy lives on, and he’s one of the most recognized symbols of MGM’s history. Cairbre even gained worldwide fame, a testament to his unique story as a Dublin lion who found his place in the heart of Hollywood.