Romance, scandal and cake

The month of April is the time when the city of Dublin engages in One City One Book. The choice for 2009 is Bram Stoker’s Dracula!

I’ll confess I have yet to read the book (or see the film) but for some reason the event still has captured my attention. Purchasing a copy of the book yesterday in Easons I also picked up a leaflet about the festival itself and had a read - lo and behold the fun and games were to start that evening with a reconstruction of the wedding of the author himself, Bram Stoker. He was wed in 1878 to Florence Balcombe in St. Ann’s Church on Dawson Street and this, of course, is where the re-enactment was to take place at 6pm. By 5.40pm there were people queuing outside, there were wedding guests hovering in the locality and I decided to part take in the fun. Even without a special hat

Ladies exchanging scandal outside the church

The drama was taking place all around us…outside the church, inside when we went to take seats, as we were waiting for the bride. Indeed Oscar Wilde himself made an appearance as one of the guests causing a scandal making a last ditch attempt to steal the bride, his former girlfriend, before she made it up the aisle. His mother was none too pleased and gave him a stern talking to afterwards at the reception. He has vowed never to love another woman after Florence.

Oscar Wilde and his mother at reception

Eventually the wedding got under way and was followed by a reception of tea and wedding cake upstairs for all. The drama continued with the wedding speeches and some more fun and singing.

Wedding couple

If you like a costume drama-big dresses and hats, as well as romance, scandal and cake then I suggest you go to the repeat re-enactment on Saturday afternoon at 2pm in St. Ann’s Church, Dawson Street.

Be warned - get there early and take a seat as near to the middle area as you can. The action happens everywhere not just on the altar. Listen out for the music as the wedding party leave the church at the end

For more Dracula events and exhibitions, you will find the details on One City One Book.