Honouring the Legacy of Bram Stoker in Ringsend
We all know who Count Dracula is, we’ve seen the movies, put the fangs in at Halloween, maybe even read the book, but did you know that the Irish author Bram Stoker was a regular around Ringsend back in the 1800’s?
Nope? Me neither!
Local historian Eddie Bohan, Chairman of the Ringsend & District Historical Society, quite accidentally, while researching for Heritage Week two years ago, came across the name Abraham Stoker who rowed for Dublin University Boat Club. Eddie had put this name in a ‘I’ll come back to you later’ folder, thinking it couldn’t possibly be the same man who is best known for writing the 1897 iconic gothic horror novel Dracula? Could it?
But unbeknownst to Eddie, he would soon be unearthing a whole Pandora’s box of information from just that one name that he had stored away on his computer about the famous writer and, more importantly, his link to our village in Ringsend.
Born on the 8th November 1847 in Marino Crescent in Clontarf, Abraham was the third of seven children and suffered poor health as a child, leaving him bedridden until the age of seven. His mother, Charlotte used to tell him stories, some horrifying tales about the cholera epidemic from her own experiences and stories of living people being mistaken for dead so you can imagine his little mind at that age, soaking up all that information and it may have very well been those stories that inspired his writings.
He was a student at Trinity College and grew up to be a tall, strong sociable character, despite the childhood ailments. He excelled in his subjects, with a degree in mathematics and he loved athletics, he was an outstanding university athlete and his proudest achievement was the recognition of Dublin University Athletics Sports Champion in 1867.
Abraham Stoker had also joined this University Rowing Club in his twenties, which was based on the River Dodder and so made him a regular visitor to Ringsend. At that time, he lived in Kildare Street and would pass the newly built St Patrick’s Church, down Thorncastle Street and to the slipways that would take the rowers out to the Liffey. Not only did he row in two man crews, he also rowed in four man crews along with his fellow students.
But it was not just the rush of rowing that brought Bram to Ringsend. Oh no. He also joined the University Boat Club Dramatic Society and he was the star entertainer performing several times on the stage at the Ringsend Clubhouse which is where St Patrick’s Rowing Club is located.
So, Eddie being the brilliant, history buff enthusiast and so passionate about his research, just knew that the Ringsend & Irishtown Historical Society committee had to brainstorm and do something to commemorate this absolutely amazing piece of knowledge about one of the most celebrated writers of Dublin.
The Bram Stoker Festival is all set for a Fang-tastic Friday on October 25th at 7pm where it will all kick off with a celebration ‘Dracula’ row on the Liffey with the local rowing and boating clubs involved and Trinity RC who will all race from Beckett Bridge to Ringsend. Following on from that there will be a plaque unveiling outside Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre to honour Bram and then lastly, an informative in-depth lecture about Bram Stoker on his life and why he came to be in Ringsend.
There will also be a special musical performance to capture the ambience of the evening so everyone, young and old are invited to come together and share in this very special occasion with fancy dress optional. (Get the vampire costumes out!)
The Ringsend & District Historical Society are a group of volunteers who are preserving the wonderful history of our town while also organising these important events and getting the whole community involved, especially the young people who can’t lose sight of where they come from. The society is always looking for new members to join so if you have a fascination for history, facts and research, or just want to help out in any way or with upcoming projects, please get in touch with them on social media and through their website.
Super thanks to Eddie Bohan for his time and all his help and input.
