Skip to content
Back to the daily read

Daily Read: World

Three Italians Hunt Down Irishman's Lost Ring

While vacationing in Tuscany, Irishman Patrick Mohr lost his 18‑karat wedding band in a mountain stream, sparking a frantic search for the precious heirloom. His wife quickly asked locals for help, leading her to three young Italians - Filippo Palagi, Nicola Malloggi, and Edoardo Poggi - who agreed to assist despite lacking gear. The trio paddled for two days with kayaks, then used snorkeling equipment and bouldering techniques on the third day, eventually spotting a glint of gold in river sand. Malloggi retrieved the ring, and the friends sent a photo to Mohr with the caption “Hi Sméagol, look what we found,” prompting a stunned reaction from the vacationing family. Rather than return the ring in Italy, the “hobbits” offered to fly it back to Ireland on a Ryanair flight, arriving at Mohr’s home in a dramatic, Tolkien‑themed entrance. Mohr welcomed the trio with a celebratory dinner, a tour of Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains, and a round of Guinness, cementing a friendship that crossed borders. The story, covered by CBC News, highlights the power of empathy and community, showing how strangers can turn a misfortune into a memorable adventure.

· Good News Network

The essential points

  1. 01Irish tourist loses 18‑karat wedding band in Tuscan stream, prompting a frantic search.
  2. 02Three Italian locals - Palagi, Malloggi, Poggi - paddled, snorkeled, and climbed for three days to locate the ring.
  3. 03Malloggi retrieves the ring; the trio photos and texts it to Mohr, sparking a stunned reaction.
  4. 04The “hobbits” fly the ring back to Ireland, arriving at Mohr’s home in a dramatic, Tolkien‑inspired welcome.
The full brief

While vacationing in Tuscany, Irishman Patrick Mohr lost his 18‑karat wedding band in a mountain stream, sparking a frantic search for the precious heirloom. His wife quickly asked locals for help, leading her to three young Italians - Filippo Palagi, Nicola Malloggi, and Edoardo Poggi - who agreed to assist despite lacking gear. The trio paddled for two days with kayaks, then used snorkeling equipment and bouldering techniques on the third day, eventually spotting a glint of gold in river sand.

Malloggi retrieved the ring, and the friends sent a photo to Mohr with the caption “Hi Sméagol, look what we found,” prompting a stunned reaction from the vacationing family. Rather than return the ring in Italy, the “hobbits” offered to fly it back to Ireland on a Ryanair flight, arriving at Mohr’s home in a dramatic, Tolkien‑themed entrance. Mohr welcomed the trio with a celebratory dinner, a tour of Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains, and a round of Guinness, cementing a friendship that crossed borders.

The story, covered by CBC News, highlights the power of empathy and community, showing how strangers can turn a misfortune into a memorable adventure.