Abhartach: The Vampiric Dwarf Of Irish Folklore
First Appearance
The concept of Abhartach first appeared in the work of Patrick Weston, “The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places,” which was first published in the year 1870. Here, the cruel entity is depicted as an undead dwarf that dwells around the land of living, feasting upon the blood of the commoners. This Irish counterpart of Dracula is represented as a dwarf magician who once terrorized Londonderry both in his lifetime and after his death, making him one of the vicious entities in the Irish folklore.
Supernatural Powers
According to Irish legends, Abhartach is a vampire who also has magical powers to terrorise people who come across this entity. This undead has a dark presence that makes the victim weak, draining all his energy so that he cannot run or escape from his clutches. As he was once a living magician, Abhartach’s powers often surprise its other European counterparts.
The Triumph Of Good Over Evil
The Legend of Abhartach is often associated with “Fionn mac Cumhaill,” a great chieftain, famous in Manx folklore. According to the folktale, Fionn Mac Cumhaill was the man behind the end of Abhartach’s reign of terror, killing him twice, both before and after his death. While killing him for the second time, the man took the help of a Druid, burying Abhartach upside down, which finally contained his malevolent spirit forever.
Modern Interpretation
In modern depictions, Abhartach is more like an undead vampire than a magician who rose from his death to become the bloodthirsty creature. Some variations also suggest that a saint, rather than a Druid, helped Fionn Mac Cumhaill by giving him a wooden sword to kill this vampiric entity. While burying upside down is common in both interpretations, Abhartach’s past life is erased from the modern tale.
Abhartach’s Connection With Dracula
Some intriguing speculations suggest that Bram Stoker’s famous figure, “The Dracula,” may have been derived from the legends and folktales of the vicious Abhartach. Vlad the Impaler, a tyrant leader who once lived in the Bran Castle of Romania, is often depicted as the origin of this pop culture phenomenon. But to some scholars, it was Abhartach who led to this creation, which resulted in creating one of the fundamental figures of the horror movie genre.
Real Or Myth
Though it is associated with folklore, Abhartach’s grave can still be found in County Londonderry, which is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland. Known as The Giant’s Grave of Ireland, it is considered the final resting place of Abhartach. This amalgamation of myths and reality validates that there was once a malevolent being or a person by the name of Abhartach who was considered horrid to the people of Ireland.
Conclusion
The stories of Abhartach are more associated with influential tyrants of the bygone eras, whose main motive was to dominate the common. These types of stories are widely spread all around the world, where an influential person or entity is defeated by the greater good. Whether it is the tale of Goliath vs. David, Kans vs. Krishna, or in this case, Abhartach vs. Fionn, each interpretation gives a description that good always wins over evil.