Agnes Aylward, Director of the Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens

Sayonara is a book of Irish translations of the Japanese Folklore collected by Patrick Lafcadio Hearn. The book was translated by Pádraig Mac Ciaráin and illustrated by Clare Okura McCay. It will have its official launch at 2pm on Friday June 14th at the Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens in Tramore. Director of the Gardens Agnes Aylward dropped into me On the Fringe to chat all about it.

Who was Lafcadio Hearn and what's his link to Tramore?

Patrick Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo) grew up in Ireland but his life took him all around the world, including to Japan where he had a huge impact on literature and society. Hearn spent his childhood summers in Tramore.  The gardens pay homage to the fame he attained in Japan through his incomparable literary descriptions of the people, customs and culture of that country. When you visit the gardens in the middle of the town, you can follow Lafcadio Hearn’s life journey, first through the Victorian Garden, then to the American and Greek gardens, until you eventually arrive in the Japanese gardens which feature many Japanese plants and Japanese architectural features. Children are introduced to the gardens through a special children’s discovery trail, secret pathways, woodlands and Lafcadio Hearn’s fairytales and folklore.

You'll find out more here.

What is happening at the launch on Friday?

Agnes outlines to me that there will be a host of activities planned at the Gardens for the launch. The guest speaker is Professor Mary Gallagher of UCD, and there will be a special performance by the 5th class children of Gaelscoil Philib Barún in Tramore. Agnes has more details in her interview, which is in the link below...

https://soundcloud.com/wlrfmwaterford/agnes-aylward-discusses-the-launch-of-sayonara-at-the-lafcadio-hearn-gardens