BRAM Stoker’s most famous work Dracula has become a celebrated classic. The book set a new standard for gothic and horror writing and remains the benchmark by which the genre is judged today. Written by the Dubliner in 1897, Dracula has been translated into over 30 languages and has inspired over 1,000 films that tell the story of a Romanian Count who maintains his reign of terror by drinking blood.
However, there is growing evidence to suggest that Stoker’s inspiration for the novel didn’t come from Eastern Europe or the infamous legend of Vlad the Impaler. In fact the story of the world’s most famous vampire might have its roots much closer to home.
Our first clue to Dracula’s Irish origins comes from the name itself. The Irish word Droch- Fhola, pronounced
‘droc- ola’, means bad, evil or tainted blood. There are many stories coming directly from Irish folklore recounting legends of strange other worldly figures that drink the blood of their victims.
It is known that Stoker carried out extensive research on folklore and mythology in preparation for writing Dracula. One such story that may have provided some inspiration is the legend of Dún Dreach- Fhoula which in English means
‘Fort of the Blood Visage’.
This ancient Irish legend tells the horrifying tale of a castle, situated on a lonely trail high in the Mcgillycuddy’s Reeks in County Kerry, which was believed to be inhabited by evil fairies. In an obvious parallel to the story of Dracula, the fairies sustain themselves by feeding off the blood of passing travellers.
Another Gaelic legend which has many similarities to Dracula is the story of Abhartach from County Derry.
The story goes that Abhartach, a local chieftain, was an evil tyrant. Believed to be a dwarf, Abhartach maintained his rule through strange magical powers. The people of the area decided Abhartach must be killed, but were too afraid to confront him themselves. Instead they approached a neighbouring chieftain called Cathán.
On hearing their tales of woe, Cathán agreed to kill the beast. Cathán is soon successful, and triumphantly buries Abhartach standing up in a remote grave. The next day however, Abhartach returns and demands to be fed by the blood of the local population, so he can regain his strength. Cathán kills the evil magician again, only for him to return the next day.
Cathán is confused and consults a knowledgeable local druid. The druid informs Cathán that Abhartach is not human, he is un-dead. He can only be stopped if he is killed by a wooden sword made from the yew tree and buried standing on his head. Cathán follows the druid’s instructions. He kills Abhartach with a wooden sword and successfully restrains him underground.
Some historians have argued that the descriptions of the un-dead in Dracula may be inspired by the tragic victims of the Great Hunger in Ireland.
The starving population would have been gaunt and pale and may have developed sensitivity to light as certain death approached. Stoker, who was born in Clontarf in 1847 at the height of the famine, is known to have heard the stories of that black period in Irish history from his Sligo born mother.
Dennis McIntyre, Director of Bram Stoker’s Dracula Organisation, has argued that the story should be seen in an Irish context and that
“Dracula might be the landlord up at the big castle sucking the blood of the peasants
?.
So as Halloween approaches and the dark nights get longer, remember that Dracula and blood drinking tyrants are a very Irish phenomenon.