Edinburgh commemorates150 years since the death of Greyfriars Bobby

Recently commemorations were held to mark 150 years since the death of Greyfriars Bobby. The story of the dog whose devotion became famous across the world. It is centred in Greyfriars Kirkyard the graveyard surrounding Greyfriars Kirk in the Scottish capital city of Edinburgh (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Èideann). Greyfriars takes its name from the Franciscan friary that was on the site, where the monks used to wear grey habits, and was dissolved in 1560. The churchyard was subsequently founded in August 1562.

Greyfriars Bobby (4 May 1855 – 14 January 1872) was the faithful dog of John Gray. When John Gray died in 1858 and was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard, Bobby sat by the grave every day and guarded it for the remaining 14 years of his life. The Skye Terrier was buried nearby. Bobby's devotion was commemorated with a statue erected in 1873, a year after his death, near the entrance to the graveyard. The statue is now a major tourist attraction with visitors having their picture taken with Bobby. Many touch the dog's nose for good luck.