Frightening fun to get your teeth into
Dublin gets set to celebrate its most famous gothic writer
WITH the big holiday of Halloween fast approaching, there’s a definite taste of blood in the air as ghouls and ghosts get ready for their annual trip out.
And of course, no Halloween would be complete without the appearance of Dracula himself. For the sixth year, the creator of the world’s most famous vampire is being celebrated as the Bram Stoker Festival returns to Dublin.
Abraham ‘Bram’ Stoker was one of four brothers born in Clontarf which at the time lay three miles outside Dublin.
Bram spent his early years bedridden as he was ill and unable to walk until he was seven years old. His father, also Abraham, was off working as a civil servant so to keep her poorly child amused, his mother Charlotte regaled him with folk tales and true stories of the cholera epidemic in her home town of Sligo.
BRAM recovered from his illness but the seeds of Dracula had been sewn in his mind thanks to his mum. After studying Maths and Sciences at Trinity, he followed in his father’s footsteps and became a civil servant, getting involved in theatre and the arts to escape the drudgery of his day job. It was the arts that ignited Bram’s passion for writing which he took to London and then created the night-stalking vampire we all love to hate.
So the Bram Stoker Festival is a celebration of his life and work, all things gothic and ghoulish and also the wonderful avenues the arts can open up in minds both young and old.
From October 27 there are more than 25 events confirmed in eerie graveyards, velvet-bedecked theatres and venues across Dublin.
By day the festival promises gothic intrigue at family-friendly events, talks and interactive experiences.
At night, the city will embrace the darkness as a host of venues deliver deadly adventures for festival goers in search of macabre thrills and late-night parties.
One of the main highlights, though, for both young and old, will be Stokerland, a weird and wonderful pop-up Victorian fun park which is taking over St Patrick’s Park from 11am until 4.30pm on October 28 and 29.
Throughout the days there will be comedy shows from Punch Lion Kid’s Club, street theatre from Victorian undertakers Morbid and Sons, a sing-along plus rides and attractions.
There will also be a food village, olde-worlde games and facepainting which sounds like the perfect day out for little ones over the Bank Holiday weekend. And of course all are encouraged to dress up. The great news is admission to Stokerland is free but there are small charges for rides.
If you fancy a picnic you can bring your own too.
As part of this year’s programme the festival is launching the BRAM Audio Ghost Experience which will run on October 29 and 30.
The tour is described as ‘a haunted, haunting, audio horror experience inspired by the classically creepy works of the legendary Bram Stoker.’
Fans of the ghastly and ghoulish can immerse themselves in the words of this master of terror while being led through Dublin’s streets on a journey that will chill to the soul. Beginning in the city centre and ending god knows where, this weird walking tour is not for the faint hearted.
Another event for all the family will be the Halloween Parade, hosted by Macnas on October 30.
The parade this year is called Memory Song and will wind its way through Dublin’s northside from 6pm, starting in Moore Street. From macabre to magical, the spectacular event will light up the night on Bank Holiday Monday.
For the grown ups there’s a bit of music from the Turning Pirate crew, famed for their New Year’s Eve bashes.
This time around the gang will be Turning Vampire instead as the festival takes over Vicar Street on Sunday 29. Some of your favourite artists — Lisa Hannigan, Saint Sister, Paddy Casey, Saoirse Casey, Niamh Farrell, and more, will be collaborating to perform some scary tunes and haunting melodies in a show like no other.
Dead Air at Belvedere House will pay homage to the classic age of radio horror on October 27 and 28. Meanwhile dancer and actor Colin Dunne will join Joan Sheehy in Whitby (Thursday 26 – Monday 30) at The Boy’s School, Smock Alley.
The performance explores the chilling, tension-filled voyage of the Demeter as it brings Dracula from Romania to the port of Whitby.
All fang fans are invited to follow the fun using #bitemedublin #fiaclafola at facebook.com/BramStokerDublin and @bramstokerdub on Twitter and Instagram.
For more details on all the events, tickets and prices, visit