Canadian Couple's Message in a Bottle Reaches Ireland After 13 Years

In a whimsical twist of fate, a message in a bottle tossed into the Atlantic Ocean by Canadian couple Brad Squires and Anita Moran has resurfaced 13 years later, nearly 2,000 miles away on the shores of Scraggane Bay, Ireland. The couple, who are now married and reside in Newfoundland, never anticipated that their tender note would travel such a distance when they sealed it in a wine bottle after a picnic on Bell Island in 2012.

The bottle's journey began when the couple, who were navigating a long-distance relationship at the time—Squires worked as a police officer in British Columbia while Moran was a trainee nurse in Newfoundland—decided to send a message to the future. "Today we enjoyed dinner, this bottle of wine and each other on the edge of the island," they wrote, adding a plea for anyone who found the bottle to contact them, along with a phone number.

After being cast into the waves, the bottle embarked on an extraordinary odyssey across the turbulent Atlantic, surviving storms and the passage of time. Fast forward to July 10, 2025, when Kate and Jon Gay, members of the Maharees Conservation Association, discovered the bottle while participating in a beach cleanup. The couple opened the bottle during a meeting that evening, only to be met with disbelief and excitement when they read the heartfelt note inside.

Martha Farrell, chair of the Maharees Conservation Association, remarked on the joy that the discovery brought, stating, "It’s a moment of pure joy. For us, it’s the impossibility and resilience of that glass bottle finding our beach all those years later—but also the resilience of the couple."

Using social media, the Gays quickly traced the couple, who are now parents of three children. "It was phenomenal," said Farrell, reflecting on how swiftly Anita Squires was able to connect with the association after the note was posted online.

The serendipitous nature of the discovery goes beyond mere chance; it raises awareness about the environmental challenges faced by coastal communities. Both the Maharees Peninsula in Ireland and parts of Newfoundland are increasingly vulnerable to climate change, including rising sea levels and extreme weather. As such, the Maharees Conservation Association plans to leverage this story to foster connections with those in Newfoundland facing similar challenges.

Anita Squires expressed her feelings about the story's broader implications, stating, "My love story is cute, but the work they are doing is so important." The association's efforts to protect and adapt coastlines in response to climate change underscore the critical need for community engagement and resilience in the face of environmental crises.

As both communities reflect on the message's journey, they are reminded of the interconnectedness of their experiences and the enduring power of love and hope in uncertain times. This unlikely reunion of a simple note has sparked a dialogue about preservation and the future, illustrating how even the smallest gestures can ripple across time and distance to create meaningful connections. The unexpected tale of Brad and Anita Squires serves as a poignant reminder of the human spirit's resilience, the joy of serendipity, and the urgent call to protect our shared environment.