Events

Follow in the footsteps of the Irish-Greek writer Patrick Lafcadio Hearn, and get a glimpse of his life and literary legacy in this tranquil garden setting at the beautiful Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens in Tramore, before meeting in the Kokoro Heritage Centre for a special concert to celebrate the connections between Irish and Japanese culture.

Join acclaimed Irish harper Tríona Marshall on her unique musical journey: Suaimhneas| Serenity brings together Irish and Japanese music and storytelling traditions, responding to the distinctive landscapes and atmosphere of the gardens which recreate Lafcadio’s life and legacy.

Lafcadio’s Trail

The afternoon begins with a guided musical journey through the gardens. Led by harper Tríona Marshall, audiences will move between different garden spaces, encountering newly commissioned harp music and stories along the way; Triona’s response to her unique surroundings.

She will perform on Irish harp alongside Charlie Marshall on Satsuma Biwa and shakuhachi, Macdara Ó Faoláin on mandolin. Storyteller Nuala Hayes will share stories from Lafcadio Hearn’s Japanese writings, including The Cave of Koko-Ura and Urashima Taro, alongside Irish folklore and music.

Concert in the Kokoro Heritage Centre

The garden trail culminates in a concert in the Kokoro Heritage Centre, featuring:

• Tríona Marshall (harp)
• Charlie Marshall (Satsuma Biwa & shakuhachi)
• Nuala Hayes (storytelling)
• Macdara Ó Faoláin (mandolin & bouzouki)
• Music Generation Waterford Harp Ensemble with harper Jill Devlin and Macdara Ó Faoláin (Mandolin)
• Cruit Éireann|Harp Ireland Quartet (Aisling Ennis, Aisling Lyons, Cormac De Barra & Gráinne Meyer)

The concert will feature Tríona Marshall’s new commission for Irish harp and Satsuma Biwa, exploring the meeting of Irish and Japanese musical traditions.

Also featuring a special collaboration between the young harpers of Music Generation Waterford, directed by Jill Devlin, with Macdara Ó Faoláin the afternoon concludes with the Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland Quartet performing acclaimed composer Bill Whelan’s recent work for four harps, commissioned for Féile na Tána.

Date: Sunday, 13 September 2026
Time: 2.30pm–4.30pm
Venue: Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens, Tramore, Co. Waterford

Tickets: Book Here