The iconic "free hugs" bear that was stolen from Cornucopia has been returned to the city centre restaurant in a Christmas miracle.
Staff at the Wicklow Street vegan eatery were disheartened after the polar bear, who had been giving out free hugs for years, was taken by a "hooded man" last week. Manager and co-owner, Dairine McCafferty told Dublin Live they received a call from a family saying they had bought the bear from a market in town for €40.
She said: "They wanted to return the bear and get their €40 back. I was in talks with them about whether or not to go down to their house. One of the girls brought him back, so we gave her a bottle of prosecco and her cash. She was really happy. We’re just happy to get the bear back."
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Dairine said the bear is currently "hanging out" in the restaurant. She said she would like to have him back on the porch but is worried someone might steal him again. She said: "He's lovely on the porch. He’s not just for our customers, he’s for everyone. I guess if we tied him to the chair, the chair would get stolen with the bear."
The bear, now nicknamed AlBEARto by the restaurant's Brazilian staff, has been in the family for nearly 20 years. Dairine recalled: "It’s kind of a testament to my mum that she would buy something like that. She was embarrassed by how much she spent on him at the time which was years ago. I asked her how much it’d be to replace him and she said, ‘Oh, I don’t know if he’s replaceable’."
Dairine was blown away by the number of messages she received from people after making the appeal for help last week. She said: "I think what was sweet about it was how much he meant to so many people as well. Through the power of social media, so many people who were out there.
"Dublin is so small. A bit of media attention and a viral post you could get something back within a few days. I guess he was so recognisable."
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