How a Message in a Bottle United Newfoundland and Ireland After 13 Years
A Love Note Carried by the Atlantic
More than a decade ago,a tender message was set afloat from the rugged cliffs of Bell Island,just off Newfoundland’s coast. This intimate letter recently washed ashore on an Irish beach, weaving together two far-flung places through an extraordinary tale of love and endurance.
The Beginning of a Lifelong Bond
Back in 2012, brad and Anita Squires were in the blossoming phase of their relationship when they enjoyed a serene September picnic on Bell Island. To capture that special moment, Anita wrote on lined paper: “Today we enjoyed dinner, this bottle of wine and each other on the edge of the island.” With great enthusiasm, Brad hurled the bottle into Conception Bay.
“I really gave it my all,” Brad remembered. “We couldn’t see where it landed becuase we were so high up; I assumed it must have smashed against some rocks.” Yet astonishingly, it remained intact.
An Oceanic Voyage Spanning Thousands of Kilometres
Almost 13 years later and over 3,000 kilometres away from its starting point, Kate and Jon Gay stumbled upon this very bottle along Ireland’s Maharees Peninsula.That evening they carefully opened it with members from a local conservation group dedicated to protecting coastal environments.
the note inside sparked immediate excitement when Martha Farrell from the maharees Conservation Association confirmed via text that Brad and Anita were still together-now married with three children.
A Testament to Resilience Across Time and Distance
Martha reflected on how this discovery deeply resonated with their environmental work: “Our focus is climate adaptation and coastal resilience. we wondered if this love story would be as enduring-and indeed it has proven to be.” The connection between these two worlds became more than romance; it symbolized steadfastness across both time zones and oceans.
The Couple’s Journey As That fateful Day
At that time, Brad was working as a police officer based in British Columbia while Anita pursued nursing studies back home in Newfoundland-a long-distance relationship spanning thousands of kilometres. They married four years later in 2016 and now share life with two teenagers plus one younger child.
“We started out young in love,” said Brad,“and now we’re older-and stronger-in love.”
Cultural Bridges Built by One Floating Message
The Gays’ gathering to open the bottle turned into an impromptu party honoring lasting affection across oceans.Simultaneously thousands of miles away through text messages exchanged via Martha Farrell’s association members felt like new friendships forged by fate’s playful hand.
This year marks both Brad & Anita’s upcoming tenth wedding anniversary as well as ten years as Martha co-founded her conservation group-an inspiring coincidence fueling plans for future visits between Canada and ireland.
“It seems we have some new friends to meet-and perhaps even trips to plan,” said squires warmly about their transatlantic bond born out of chance.”
