This little doll had quite a big adventure.

On the morning of St. Patrick’s day, Emily (4) and her mum Siobhan were getting ready to attend the annual parade in Mayo along with Emily’s favourite doll, Brownie Lottie.

At the parade, mum decided it was best to place Lottie into her handbag for safekeeping but no one could guess what would happen next – when the parade was over, Mum realised that Lottie was missing!

Lottie had gone AWOL

Emily was determined to find her dolly, and despite the bitter cold and falling snow, Emily insisted her mum and dad retrace their steps along the parade route; not one, not twice, but three times!

However, there was no sign of Lottie and eventually, a crestfallen Emily was persuaded to come home without her favourite friend.

The next day, Emily’s mum tried to take her mind off the doll – but Emily wasn’t going to forget her that easily.

Poor Emily remained worried that wherever she was, Lottie was bound to be cold as she hadn’t been wearing her jacket when she went missing. Emily busied herself by taking care of Lottie’s teddy and doggy, certain they would be missing Lottie as much as she was.

In a last-ditch effort to find her daughter’s toy, mum Siobhan took to social media to explain what had happened and to ask the public to keep their eyes open for Lottie.

When she awoke the next morning, she couldn’t believe what had happened – her post had been shared hundreds of times and had even attracted the attention of a local radio station who had made several appeals across the airwaves for the safe return of a beloved doll.

The next day, Siobhan was delighted to receive a very interesting phone call – it seemed that Lottie had been off on a very exciting adventure with some cowboys!

The Ballina Cowboys, the self-appointed protectors of Ballina, had also been walking in the parade and had stumbled upon Brownie Lottie.

Not all heroes wear capes, but some of them do wear cowboy hats.

 

Hoping to reunite her with her owner, they took Lottie home where she’d be out of the cold.

A reunion was planned for Emily and Lottie that very afternoon.

Emily was so grateful to be reunited with her favourite dolly.

Not only was Emily reunited with her Lottie, but she was also presented with a cowboy hat and proudly proclaimed herself to be a cowgirl!

Emily is delighted to have her best friend back home with her, where she belongs.