Unearthing a Once in a Lifetime Discovery: Bram Stoker’s Long Lost “Gibbet Hill”

This year’s annual Dublin City Council Bram Stoker Festival brought with it thrilling news that a long-lost short story by Bram Stoker himself has been unearthed. The story, titled Gibbet Hill, was uncovered by lifelong Stoker enthusiast Brian Cleary, sparking excitement among fans and scholars alike.

Brian Cleary’s journey to the discovery began in 2021, after undergoing cochlear implant surgery. While on leave from work to recover, he spent time at the National Library of Ireland (NLI), to indulge one of his great interests; historical literature and the works of Stoker. In a surprising turn, he stumbled upon this literary gem.

The short story, “Gibbet Hill”, has since been published and the worlds first public reading of it took place on Saturday, October 26th, in the Pillar Room at the Rotunda Hospital as part of the annual Dublin City Council Bram Stoker Festival. The event included a lively panel discussion hosted by RTÉ’s Miriam O’Callaghan, featuring Stoker biographer Paul Murray, artist Paul McKinley, and Brian Cleary himself, who led the story’s first-ever public reading.

Gibbet Hill by Bram Stoker, published by The Rotunda Foundation, is now available and priced at €18.99. Buy on https://rotundafoundation.ie/gibbet-hill/. All proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the Charlotte Stoker Fund for research on the prevention of acquired deafness in vulnerable newborn babies.