Abhartach
Vampires have been an integral part of folklore for centuries. When you think of Vampires you may think of Dracula, Transylvania, and even Vlad the Impaler. But what if there is another vampire of folklore that may have contributed heavily to our idea of the vampire today? In Ireland, there is the story of Abhartach, perhaps one of the earliest vampire tales.
Abhartach's story is said to have taken place in Derry, Ireland in the 5th century. Ironically, the town most associated with his tale is Slaghtaverty (which reads a lot like the English word slaughter to me). The tale depicts Abhartach as a powerful chieftain who was feared by his subjects. He was incredibly cruel to his subjects and seemed to lack empathy and mercy.
Perhaps his cruelty came from taunting him in his early years about his appearance. Why? Well, in Irish Abhartach translates roughly to dwarf. It is believed the Chieftan won his coveted seat thanks to his ability for magic and, once had power, he became an absolute tyrant. The people under his thumb sought protection and it is said that the legendary Fionn Mac Cumhail responded to their pleas for salvation. if you aren't familiar with Irish lore, Fionn mac Cumhaill is considered one of the great heroes of Irish myth. In addition to being a great warrior, he was also a gifted seer and poet. He was regarded as a champion of the Irish people and was known to be wise, benevolent, and chivalrous.
When Fionn mac Cumahil answered the call, he challenged the fellow Chieftan to a duel and won. The people celebrated and Abhartach was buried in a standing posture. Shockingly, the very next day he appeared back in the village even more cruel and vicious than before. The people, shocked and devastated at his escape from the grave, called back Fionn mac Cumhail and they fought again...and he lost again and was buried. But, then he escaped again and began wreaking terror not just in his own Chiefdom, but in neighboring towns as well. This time, however, a druid was consulted about how to handle this tyrant that just wouldn't stay dead. The druid recommended that he be buried head down this time and surrounded by yew. After this, he never appeared again.
As a side note, you might be wondering what yew is. It is a type of evergreen tree, which, as you might know, has long been believed to guard against evil and dark magic. It is directly connected to death and rebirth and even today is often used in funeral wreathes.
Of course, like all good myths, there are some inconsistencies. For example, in some stories, it isn't mac Cumhail who saves the day but another Chieftan, Cathain, who fills that role. And, of course, in general tellings, there is no mention of his bloodlust beyond him terrorizing the local townsfolks...but that isn't true for every version of this tale. In fact, in some stories the second time he comes back he is even madder than before and begins to demand bowls of blood for him to feast upon as an apology from the people who had him murdered. Additionally, in some tales, he isn’t just buried upside down, he is also driven through with a spear of yew to fully immobilize him and his power.
So, we have a despotic ruler that comes back from the dead, with bloodlust (both metaphorical and literal), AND a stake through the heart. Sound like a fellow we know? (Cough, cough Dracula).
One of the earliest *printed* accounts comes from Patrick Weston Joyce’s 1879 work, The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places. In this excerpt….
“It is very curious that, in some parts of the country, the people still retain a dim traditional memory of this mode of sepulture, and of the superstition connected with it. There is a place in the parish of Errigal in Londonderry, called Slaghtaverty, but it ought to have been called Laghtaverty, the laght or sepulchral monument of a man named Abhartach [Avartagh], who was, it seems, a dwarf. This dwarf was a magician, and a dreadful tyrant, and after having perpetrated great cruelties on the people he was at last vanquished and slain by a neighbouring chieftain; some say by Finn Mac Cumhail. He was buried in a standing posture, but the very next day he appeared in his old haunts, more cruel and vigorous than ever. And the chief slew him a second time and buried him as before, but again he escaped from the grave, and spread terror through the whole country. The chief then consulted a druid, and according to his directions, he slew the dwarf a third time, and buried him in the same place, with his head downwards; which subdued his magical power, so that he never again appeared on the earth. The laght raised over the dwarf is still there, and you may hear the legend with much detail from the natives of the place, one of whom told it to me.”
It should be noted that Bram Stoker studied in Ireland and could have, at least partially, inspired the tale of Dracula. But, the story was fairly popular not just in County Derry but Ireland as a whole and it isn't unbelievable that he may have come across the tale while staying with and speaking with locals.
And, if you believe any of this at all, you can visit Abhartach’s grave today. It lies in the middle of a field in Slaughtaverty. The grave itself, perhaps ironically, is known as The Giant's Grave. To this day, on the site, there is a large over which grows a thorn bush. Perhaps a final stop again Abrathach rising again.
While the blog featured image is not directly tied to the story, it does feature Derry, Ireland which is where the tale of Abhartach comes from. The image features Derry Burn at Derry Lodge taken by Steve Partridge. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
Thanks to Katie Q for the blogstonishing suggestion!