Construction of new Cultural Centre underway at Waterford tourist attraction

The Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens in Tramore has announced that construction of its new Kokoro Cultural Centre is underway.

To mark the beginning of the project a foundation stone ceremony will take place  later this week in the presence of His Excellency Ambassador Maruyama Norio, Japan’s Ambassador to Ireland.

Cllr Jason Murphy, Mayor of Waterford City and County and Minister of State Mary Butler will also attend the ceremony.

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The Japanese Gardens in Tramore has gone from strength to strength since it first opened in 2015 and it will celebrate its 10^th anniversary with the opening of the Kokoro Cultural Centre, which is on course for completion in August 2025. 

The outlay on the construction of the building to date is being supported by a grant from the Waterford Leader Partnership Programme, by philanthropic sources and by money raised directly by the gardens from gate receipts and borrowings.

The name Kokoro in Japanese means, ‘spirit or soul’ and the Kokoro Centre will further augment the peace and spiritual tranquillity that visitors find in the gardens, where the extraordinary story of the Irish/Greek Writer, Patrick Lafcadio Hearn, is told through eleven unique garden areas.

Visitor numbers to the Japanese Gardens in Tramore have increased steadily yearly and are now running at 40,000 per annum.

The upper floor level of the Kokoro Centre will be a covered space, providing introductory information and facilitating talks to visiting tour groups.  It will also provide a relaxing café space to sit and absorb the wonderful views of the gardens and the glorious Tramore Bay below.

The lower level will have seating for one hundred people and will become a venue for cultural events, concerts, music performances, poetry readings and workshops.  it will also provide a beautiful indoor space for many of the annual garden events as well as functioning as a welcome facility for community, national and international tour groups.

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The Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens is a registered charity and a ‘not for profit’ entity.   The hard work and dedication of the voluntary board, and the management and staff, along with the support of local volunteers has enabled this dream to become a reality.

Fundraising is ongoing for the development of the Kokoro Centre, and to ensure the long term sustainability of this Community Cultural Social enterprise in Tramore.

Further information in relation to the Japanese Gardens and the Kokoro Cultural Centre can be found here.