Return of the quack!

A headline-grabbing globetrotting duck ornament that went missing from the bonnet of a car visiting Tullamore for the weekend has been returned safe and sound. Wicklow native Charlie von Metzradt has travelled some 2,500 miles over the past number of months, always with the light up yellow duck ornament on the bonnet of his car. The duck has visited, among other destinations, the Burning Man Festival in Nevada, Wales, London and places all over Ireland. On November 10 he visited Charleville Castle on the outskirts of Tullamore for a Burning Man decompression event, and it was at about 7pm that evening the duck - or lack of it - was noticed. Presuming it was a prank, Charlie let the matter lie. However over a week on from the incident the bonnet of Charlie's red Ford Fiesta was still bare, even though he'd returned for a second visit to Charleville Castle. Charlie took to the internet looking for the safe return of the unusual car ornament, and the story was also picked up as news locally. Then today (Wednesday) came the news everyone had been waiting for - the duck had been returned. Speaking to the Offaly Independent moments after the return of the ornament on Wednesday afternoon, Charleville Castle volunteer Ausra Jevelaygyte (AJ) said she was taking rubbish out when she saw a car stopping by the castle gates and a man putting the duck ornament on a table at the gates. AJ said she didn't get to speak to the man before he left, but she immediately recovered the duck and brought it to the volunteers' kitchen in the castle. "It looks ok," she said. "There's a little bit of dirt on it, but no damage." "I'm very pleased," Charlie said on hearing the good news. "Thank you very much." It's expected duck and owner will be reunited within a fortnight.