Japanese Gardens – Tramore
Pynck recently visited Tramore, Co. Waterford – and within it, the Japanese Gardens. They are a spectular and relaxing must see if you are in the area.
Within the Japanese Gardens Tramore, the Zen Garden A holds a shrine to Lafcadio Hearn with poem by Sean Dunne.
The Japanese Gardens have many different stops and gardens. The garden does celebrate the life and work of Patrick Lafcadio Hearn 1850 to 1904. It follows his life journey from Greece to Ireland and then to America where he was first recognised as a gifted writer. It has particularly interesting choice of plants, design, and usage of rocks. He wrote “In order to comprehend the beauty of a Japanese garden ,it is necessary to understand-or at least to learn to understand-the beauty of stones” The gardens start with the Victorian Garden move on to the Transition Garden with a central koi fish path; a mound reminiscent of Tramore’s sand dunes, a symbolic tribute to the legend of the turtle and the crane; and a depiction of the four main islands of Japan.
The gardens are wheelchair accessible for gardens 1 to 6 steps and boardwalks inaccessible to prams and buggies but tea and coffee facilities available at the entrance reception with lovely views over Tramore and seating area. Price roughly 6 euro per adult with very reasonable family rates.
