Abhartach: The Irish Vampire

 

Abhartach: The Irish Vampire

 

Long before Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Vlad the Impaler, there was a monster known as Abhartach, the Irish Vampire. Although not appearing in written records until 1870 when Patrick Weston Joyce wrote about him in his book, The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places, there is an oral history of this creature dating back to the fourth or fifth century.

Abhartach was, according to legend, a dwarf, a magician, a chieftain, who terrorized his people. Tired of his way, they asked the hero Fionn Mac Cumhail (Finn McCool) to help them. Fionn slew the man and buried him, standing up. The next day, the Abhartach was back, demanding blood from his people. Fionn again killed the creature and again buried him, standing up. Again, the Abhartach returned.

Finally, Fionn consulted a druid who told him to kill the monster with a sword made from yew and bury him upside down. This seems to have done the trick, and he has not been seen since!

The legend of the Abhartach is from a small parish in Londonderry called, Slaghtaverty. There is a dolmon (standing stone) which is said to mark the vampire's burial spot. The word Abhartach means dwarf in old Irish. Some scholars believe that Bram Stoker heard of this legend and it was the inspiration for his Dracula story. 

But … The Abhartach makes and appearance in book three of The Midsummer Women, The Fairy Witch. How will Hannah stop him? Find out soon.