The Tale of The Faithful Dog: A story for Halloween
October is the month of Halloween, ghost stories, and tales of things that go “ bump ” in the night.
This is a well documented story, sourced from www.irisshcultureand customs.com and apparently with many witnesses. Make of it what you will.
On the night of Saturday 8th February, 1861, the Irish Sea was swept by one of the worst gales of the century. The harbour at Dun Laoghaire, was littered with debris and the wreckage of battered vessels. Scores of drowned seamen were found on the shoreline. Three stricken vessels, the Neptune, the Industry, and the Mary , were trying to get to the safety of the harbour. The Neptune smashed against the East Pier, with all its crew thrown into the water. The rescue effort was led by Captain John McNeill Boyd was a Derry native who joined the Royal Navy in 1825, aged just 13. He worked his way up the ranks, becoming a Captain in 1856. He served as Lieutenant on several vessels before joining the HMS Superb as second in command, and he was appointed captain of the HMS Conway in 1857. A year later, he became Captain of HMS Ajax and commander of the Dublin District of the Irish Coast Guard. Captain Boyd and three of his men set out in a lifeboat from the Ajax to try and rescue sailors clinging to the rocks. As always, the Captain's faithful companion, a black Newfoundland dog, accompanied him. While they were on the rocks trying to save the men, the Captain and three of his men were swept away by a giant wave. When another lifeboat from the Ajax went to search for Captain Boyd and his men, the only living thing they found was the Captain's dog who was still in the Captain's lifeboat. Captain Boyd's body was finally recovered and he was given one of the biggest funerals ever seen in Dublin. The requiem Mass was held in St. Patrick's Cathedral; afterwards, the funeral procession made its way to Glasnevin Cemetery. The entire time, the Captain's dog stayed beside his master's coffin. At the cemetery, when the grave was filled in, the Captain's devoted companion lay on top and refused to move. He also refused to eat or drink and eventually, he died of starvation. A short time later, a memorial statue to Captain Boyd was erected in the Cathedral by the people of Dublin. Many times since then, a black Newfoundland dog has been seen sitting at the base of the statue. The ghost has also been seen lying on his master ’ s grave at nearby Glasnevin Cemetery, and at the base of his statue in the Cathederal, by many, including former Dean, Very Rev. David Wilson. Boyd was posthumously awarded the RNLI Silver Medal, the Tayleur Fund Gold Medal and the Sea Gallantry Medal.
A memorial on the East Pier at Dun Laoghaire was erected by the Royal St George Yacht Club near the site of the disaster. There is a memorial in Christ Church, Cheltenham, where his brother was minister, erected by members of the congregation of the church, and another in St Columb ’ s Cathedral in Derry, his birthplace.
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