An illustrated talk by Agnes Aylward on the history of the Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens in Tramore, Co. Waterford

In the 10th anniversary year of the opening of the Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens in Tramore, Co. Waterford, its founder and chair Agnes Aylward will give an illustrated presentation on the genesis, development and exciting future of these unique gardens. Her talk will cover the inspirational background to the creation of the gardens, commencing with the visit to Tramore in 2012 of Bon Koizumi, the great-grandson of Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904), and will highlight the usage of rocks, plants, water and topography to create a series of garden features that botanically illustrate Hearn’s life journey. Particular reference will be made to famous Japanese folk tales represented figuratively in several of the Garden’s features, including Hearn’s famous account of ‘The Cave of the Children’s Ghosts’.

Agnes Aylward is a former public servant, and has received the formal Commendation of the Foreign Minister of Japan for her contribution to furthering international cultural relations between Japan and Ireland.