Abhartach
Encyclopedia
Abhartach is an early Irish
legend
, which was first collected in Patrick Weston Joyce
's The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places (1875), which has led some to suggest that it may have been the prototype for Bram Stoker
's Dracula
. Abhartach should not be confused with the similarly named Abartach
, a figure associated with Fionn mac Cumhaill
.
It is often incorrectly claimed that the Abhartach legend first appeared in Geoffrey Keating
's 17th century Forus Feasa Air Éirinn (History of Ireland); this is based on a misreading of The Undead: The Legend of Bram Stoker and Dracula by Peter Haining
and Peter Tremayne (1997) Haining and Tremayne state on page 71 that Patrick Weston Joyce translated
Keating's work, while on page 74 they point out that Joyce and several other 19th-century antiquarians recorded the Abhartach folktale. Many popular books perpetuate this misunderstanding.
wood, burying him upside down, surrounding his grave with thorns, and placing a large stone on top of the grave.
The name "Cathrain", or "Catháin" is one of the forebearer of the O'Kane family, a name synonymous with the north Derry
area, Ó Catháin being "the family of Catháin". "The man of bad blood" in Irish Gaelic would be Fear na droch fhola; droch fhola would be pronounced Drockola, which might add some weight to the Bram Stoker theory.
However, an alternative inspiration for Stoker's story was put forward by Bob Curran, lecturer in Celtic History and Folklore at the University of Ulster
, Coleraine
, in the Summer 2000 edition of History Ireland, a peer-reviewed journal edited by historians, where he suggested that Stoker may have derived his inspiration from the legend of Abhartach. Curran is also the author of Vampires: A Field Guide to the Creatures That Stalk the Night (2005), which recounts a more detailed version of the legend than that collected by Weston.
In 1997, attempts were made to clear the land; in conformity with folklore, workmen who attempted to cut down the thorn tree arching across Abhartach’s grave allegedly had their chain saw malfunction three times. While attempting to lift the great stone, a steel chain snapped, cutting the hand of one of the labourers, and ominously, allowing blood to soak into the ground.
Mr Curran himself suffered “a severe and inexplicable fall” after visiting the site.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
, which was first collected in Patrick Weston Joyce
Patrick Weston Joyce
Patrick Weston Joyce was an Irish historian, writer and music collector, known particularly for his research in local place names of Ireland.-Biography:...
's The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places (1875), which has led some to suggest that it may have been the prototype for Bram Stoker
Bram Stoker
Abraham "Bram" Stoker was an Irish novelist and short story writer, best known today for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula...
's Dracula
Dracula
Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor...
. Abhartach should not be confused with the similarly named Abartach
Abartach
In Irish mythology, Abarta , was one of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and is associated with Finn MacCool.One tale of Abarta's trickery is where he offered himself as a servant to Finn MacCool, shortly after MacCool had succeeded his father as leader of the Fianna, a band of mighty Milesian warriors...
, a figure associated with Fionn mac Cumhaill
Fionn mac Cumhaill
Fionn mac Cumhaill , known in English as Finn McCool, was a mythical hunter-warrior of Irish mythology, occurring also in the mythologies of Scotland and the Isle of Man...
.
It is often incorrectly claimed that the Abhartach legend first appeared in Geoffrey Keating
Geoffrey Keating
Seathrún Céitinn, known in English as Geoffrey Keating, was a 17th century Irish Roman Catholic priest, poet and historian. He was born in County Tipperary c. 1569, and died c. 1644...
's 17th century Forus Feasa Air Éirinn (History of Ireland); this is based on a misreading of The Undead: The Legend of Bram Stoker and Dracula by Peter Haining
Peter Haining
Peter Alexander Haining was a British journalist, author and anthologist who lived and worked in Suffolk...
and Peter Tremayne (1997) Haining and Tremayne state on page 71 that Patrick Weston Joyce translated
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
Keating's work, while on page 74 they point out that Joyce and several other 19th-century antiquarians recorded the Abhartach folktale. Many popular books perpetuate this misunderstanding.
Legend
Alternate versions
In some versions Abhartach rises from his grave to drink the blood of his subjects, while the chieftain who slays the revenant is named as Cathrain. The hero variously consults an early Christian saint instead of a druid, and is told that Abhartach is one of the neamh-mairbh, or walking dead, and that he can only be restrained by killing him with a sword made of yewTaxus
Taxus is a genus of yews, small coniferous trees or shrubs in the yew family Taxaceae. They are relatively slow-growing and can be very long-lived, and reach heights of 1-40 m, with trunk diameters of up to 4 m...
wood, burying him upside down, surrounding his grave with thorns, and placing a large stone on top of the grave.
The name "Cathrain", or "Catháin" is one of the forebearer of the O'Kane family, a name synonymous with the north Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
area, Ó Catháin being "the family of Catháin". "The man of bad blood" in Irish Gaelic would be Fear na droch fhola; droch fhola would be pronounced Drockola, which might add some weight to the Bram Stoker theory.
Alternative Origin of Dracula
It has always been assumed that the original Dracula story, written by the Irishman Abraham (Bram) Stoker in 1897, was based on the Transylvanian folk hero Vlad III Tepesh Dracula, known as “the impaler” because of his favourite method of punishment.However, an alternative inspiration for Stoker's story was put forward by Bob Curran, lecturer in Celtic History and Folklore at the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
, Coleraine
Coleraine
Coleraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
, in the Summer 2000 edition of History Ireland, a peer-reviewed journal edited by historians, where he suggested that Stoker may have derived his inspiration from the legend of Abhartach. Curran is also the author of Vampires: A Field Guide to the Creatures That Stalk the Night (2005), which recounts a more detailed version of the legend than that collected by Weston.
Recent folklore and supernatural claims
Abhartach's grave is now known as Slaghtaverty Dolmen, and is locally referred to as "The Giant’s Grave". It comprises a large rock and two smaller rocks under a hawthorn.In 1997, attempts were made to clear the land; in conformity with folklore, workmen who attempted to cut down the thorn tree arching across Abhartach’s grave allegedly had their chain saw malfunction three times. While attempting to lift the great stone, a steel chain snapped, cutting the hand of one of the labourers, and ominously, allowing blood to soak into the ground.
Mr Curran himself suffered “a severe and inexplicable fall” after visiting the site.