VAMPIRES ARE BIG RIGHT NOW, AND WITH THE PROLIFERATION OF MOVIES AND TV SHOWS ABOUT THEM, IT SHOWS HOW DEEP THIS STORY RUNS IN OUR MINDS.  i AM ABSOLUTLEY SURE THAT THERE ARE BLOODSUCKERS AMONG US, WHO HAVE NO GUILT OR REMORSE AND PURPOSELY GO OUT TO CAUSE HARM.  YOU MIGHT KNOW SOMEONE WHO FITS THAT DESCRIPTION, BUT THE REAL VAMPIRES CAN BE TRACED BACK TO TRANSYLVANIA, OR CAN THEY?

ONE OF THE EARLIEST STORIES OF VAMPIRES CAME FROM IRELAND. THESE STORIES GO BACK FOR CENTURIES.  ABRAHAM(BRAHM)STOKER WAS IRISH AND WAS INFLUENCED BY IRISH FOLKLORE.  SO IN 1897 WHEN HE WROTE HIS NOVEL "DRACULA", IT RESEMBLED THE DARK WOODS,  AND SMALL VILLAGES FULL OF SUPERSTITIOUS PEASANTS IN HIS NATIVE IRELAND.

ONE OF THESE TALES THAT HE DREW FROM WAS THE "FIR GORTA" (MAN OF HUNGER), AN EMACIATED CREATURE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN A SPECTRE AND A FAIRY, TRAMPED THE IRISH ROADS WITH A STAFF IN ONE HAND AND A SMALL METAL BEGGING CUP IN THE OTHER.  AT THE BACK DOOR OF THE HOUSES IT PASSED, IT WOULD RATTLE THE CUP AND MAKE A FAINT CALL FOR ALMS.  IF THOSE IN THE HOUSE IGNORED THE SOUND AND DID NOT LEAVE A COIN OR A PIECE OF FOOD BY THE BACK DOOR FOR HIM, SICKNESS AND PERHAPS DEATH WOULD DESCEND UPON THEM. 

AT THIS TIME TOO, THE DULLANHAN, AN AWFUL HEADLESS HORSEMAN, THUNDERED OVER THE NIGHTBOUND IRISH COUNTRYSIDE, WITH DISEASE UNDER HIS CLOAK, INFECTING HOUSEHOLDS HE PASSED.  TUBERCULOSIS WAS RAMPANT AND THIS DISEASE CAUSED THE PERSON TO TURN A DEATHLY PALE AND TO COUGH UP BLOOD.  SOUND FAMILIAR????  SO BRAHM STOKER WAS INFLUENCED BY HIS SURROUNDINGS AND BY STORIES OF OLD TIMES. HE KNEW THAT VAMPIRES DID INDEED WALK AMONG US!