Rugby fan appeals for recovery of hat
Wexford-based Eleanor Quilty, who is a close relative of Paul O’Connell, has issued a special appeal for its recovery. She first missed the hat after the game in Limerick.
Married to Paul’s uncle, Bob Quilty, her hat is dotted with rugby club pins collected on trips stretching from Toulouse to South Africa. She believes she may have left the hat in a taxi which was taking her to the Strand Hotel.
“I have collected a lot of pins as souvenirs and I had about 15 on my favourite rugby hat. While it is a very faded check green with a grey bow at the back, the hat has huge, huge, sentimental value,” said Eleanor.
“The hat has been with us for years and it has badges on it from places like Toulouse, South Africa and Australia.”
Eleanor and Bob have taken the hat on all their worldwide rugby travels over the past nine years.
She said: “Our daughter Shelley Ann gave it to me and as I built up my collection of rugby pins, I placed some of them on the hat.
“The taximan was a very nice man and I’m sure if he came across it, he would be anxious to get it back to me,” she said.
“After the match we got a taxi to the Strand Hotel to meet friends.”
On arrival at the hotel, Eleanor realised the hat was missing after the taxi had gone. She said: “We looked everywhere for it and then we realised I must have taken it off in the back of the cab and left it behind.”
* A reward is being offered and anybody with information should contact 087-7754128.
