In an intriguing intersection of Gothic literature and Irish history, Marc McMenamin reports on the unexpected connection between two of horror fiction’s most iconic figures: Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, and Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein.

Both authors' maternal grandmothers are buried in the same church, St. Anne’s Church of Ireland in Ballyshannon, County Donegal. This small town, steeped in history, holds a shared link to the families of both writers, whose groundbreaking 19th-century novels, written 56 years apart, were influenced by the region’s folklore and its dark history.

In this compelling radio feature, McMenamin explores how the real-life horrors of the era—such as the cholera epidemic of 1832—shaped the creation of these timeless works of Gothic fiction. The report examines how the spectres of plagues, death, and the undead were woven into the local folklore, which likely inspired elements of both Dracula and Frankenstein. McMenamin is joined by Professor Jarlath Killeen of Trinity College Dublin and local historian Brian Drummond, who provide expert insights into this fascinating link between Irish history and the birth of the Gothic genre.

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