An Extraordinary Bram Stoker Discovery (Worldwide Exclusive)
Dublin City Council Bram Stoker Festival & The Rotunda Foundation
Duration: 90 minutes
Age suitability: 12+ (Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult)
Accessibility: Venue is wheelchair accessible. The accessible toilet is located on on the same level as the performance space.
Latecomers Policy: Latecomers will be admitted.
Earlier this year, Dublin City Council Bram Stoker Festival was approached by Brian Cleary, a lifelong Stoker enthusiast, about a discovery of major literary and historical significance relating to Bram Stoker that he had unearthed. We, along with historians, archivists and Stoker biographers were stunned and thrilled by his once-in-a-lifetime finding.
Brian made this discovery as a result of his personal experience of sudden hearing loss. The Rotunda Foundation, a charity associated with the Rotunda Hospital where Brian works, agreed to collaborate to bring this discovery to the world while raising awareness and funds for deafness-related research. We are honoured to partner with Brian and the Rotunda Foundation to share his discovery, which will have global interest and impact.
Currently, there are only a handful of people who know the full details of Brian’s incredible find. In mid-October all will be revealed to the world - we will post updates here and on our social accounts as soon as the discovery is made public.
During this year’s festival, we will host a public event in the Pillar Room at the Rotunda Hospital with Miriam O’Callaghan interviewing Brian Cleary, Paul Murray (Stoker’s pre-eminent biographer) and visual artist Paul McKinley about this incredible find, the fascinating and heartwarming story behind it, and what it means for the legacy of Bram Stoker. The event will also include a very, very special moment - that’s all we can say for now!
Trust us- you don’t want to miss this one!
This thrilling discovery forms the central component of a new, limited edition book (published by the Rotunda Foundation) which will be launched and available to purchase at this event. All funds raised by book sales will go directly to the newly formed Charlotte Stoker Fund administered by the Rotunda Foundation and named in memory of Bram Stoker’s mother, an outspoken social justice campaigner and an early advocate for the education of deaf children. The fund will enable research on preventable deafness in vulnerable newborn babies.
Péisteanna - An exhibition of new work by Paul McKinley
In addition to the event, an exhibition of new works relating to the discovery, by visual artist Paul McKinley, will be held at the Casino in Marino, from Thursday 3 October to Thursday 6 November.
