Waterford's gardens are perfect outings during cosy season
The Japanese Gardens in Tramore. Pictures by Shannon Sweeney
One of the things Waterford does best is gardens. This week I am going to guide you through three of them, each one worthy of a day trip.
From the tranquil Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens, to the proud and vibrant Lismore Castle Gardens and the stately and passion-filled Mount Congreve.
I love gardens. Plants, bees and birds don’t know social media or work; they just are, and a visit to one might just remind you that for a little while, you can just be too.
While you can just explore the gardens and take in the sights, smells and rest, you could also sketch, learn the history of the place or find the stories of the people who built, created and sometimes lived inside these gardens.
There may or may not be a beach around, but we are now into autumn, and you know what, it's time to slow down, stroll, and celebrate all things cosy.
And Waterford will have a garden for that.
I would not be an exaggeration to tell you that I would live in Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens.
There are 11 gardens, each with a theme, and it doesn’t matter what time of the year you visit; they will all be lovely.
There are cherry blossoms, an olive tree and so many flowers.
One of my favourite parts is finding the stone animals. They are not really hidden, but not what you expect to see either.
Get a map from the front desk and you will see what I mean. It took me forever to find the tortoise, but I was delighted when I did.
Other features include the tea house and Torii gate, as well as the humpback bridge over the stream and the gardens are surrounded by flora.
It really is a fabulous day out.
Located on the Pond Road in Tramore, the gardens are open every day from 10am to 6pm.
The beautiful new Kokoro Café opened in early 2026 and serves cake and tea/coffee and is open from 8.30am to 5pm on weekdays and 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Sit outside with your coffee and look out onto the stunning view of Tramore bay.
The garden’s tagline is 'Ireland’s bridge to Japan', which is fitting given its namesake.
Patrick Lafcadio Hearn was a Greek Irish writer, translator and teacher who is credited with introducing Japanese culture and literature to the west.
His hugely influential book of Japanese ghost stories, Kwaidan, is still a much-loved collection, and his work has inspired a museum in Matsue where Hearn made his home.
Hearn was born on the Greek Island of Levkás in 1850 but was raised in Dublin by his aunt Sarah Brennan.
Hearn spent many summers in Tramore as well as Cong in Co. Mayo.
He became a journalist in the US before travelling and settling in Japan in 1890.
But Hearn loved Japan and met and married his wife, Setsu Koizumi, taking the name Koizumi Yakumo for himself.
The idea for the gardens sprang up when the great-grandson of Lafcadio Hearn, Professor Bon Koizumi, along with his wife Shoko, visited Tramore in 2012.
He was retracing his ancestors’ footsteps and visited Tramore House.
The idea of a memorial garden took off, and the garden was completed in 2015.
Last year it celebrated its 10-year anniversary and the late Japanese Ambassador to Ireland Junji Shimada, spoke at the ceremony.
I love this garden. You won’t find a more peaceful place to sketch or sit in all of East Waterford.
Admission is €8 euro for adults and €4 for children under 15. Tours are also available.
If you fancy visiting and making a day of it, why not visit Tramore Beach as well.
There are plenty of places to eat, like Daoti Sushi if you want to stay on theme.
Or if you do hit the beach, there are so many places to choose from.
My personal favourite (especially if you are vegetarian) is Moe's on the prom.
But if that’s not your vibe, Tramore could never be said to be lacking in eateries, and you will find something.
If you are travelling from the city, the Bus Éireann 360 route goes every 20 minutes during the day with regular pick-ups in the evening too.
For those in West Waterford, the Local Link 367 goes four times a day every day from Davitt’s Quay.
Lismore Castle Gardens are the oldest cultivated gardens in the country.
Covering 10 acres, the gardens are divided into three parts, the Reilig Garden, the Upper Garden, and the Lower Garden.
Some of the walls in the Reilig Garden date back to the 13 th century, and it got its name from the medieval graveyard in the area.
The Upper Garden, which was constructed in the 1600s, is a mix of ornamental borders and fruit, vegetables and herbs grown for the castle kitchen.
The castle itself is not open to the public as there are people living there, but it will likely be in the backdrop of every picture and rightfully so.
Built in 1185, Lismore Castle is as gorgeous as it is proud and imposing.
The lower garden was created in the 19 th century for the 6 th Duke of Devonshire, Sir Joseph Paxton’s patron.
In the lower garden you will find the yew avenue, which according to the website, is older than the garden itself.
Magnolias and rhododendrons also grace the lower garden.
But one of my favourite parts of the garden is actually indoors.
The west wing of the Castle is home to Lismore Castle Arts , a contemporary art gallery located in the Upper Garden.
When I visited last year, let me tell you, it is the strangest little gallery I ever did see, but delightfully so.
The café itself is pretty, with outdoor seating and sells cakes and tea/coffee.
On your way out, I recommend picking up some homemade apple juice in a glass bottle - you won’t be disappointed.
You can also book a picnic, which I might just do on my next visit.
Admission to the garden is €11 but the gardens are only open between March 13 and October 25 .
On Sundays, just outside the castle, there is a little market selling all sorts of crafts and goods.
The heritage town of Lismore is gorgeous, but that’s all I’m going to say this week, if you catch my meaning.
If you visit on a Sunday, my recommendation would be to stroll around the market (and support the traders).
Afterwards, explore the gardens, try the café and apple juice and visit the gallery.
And before you head home, have a wander around the town of Lismore itself, it historic and pretty, and you never know what might catch your interest.
Sounds peaceful, doesn’t it?
If you want to visit Lismore by public transport from the city, take the Bus Eireann Route 40 to Dungarvan and from Davitt’s Quay take the Local Link 363 Dungarvan to Fermoy. It’s the second stop.
The last garden worth making a day trip for is Mount Congreve Gardens in Kilmeaden is billed as 'a haven for plant and history lovers alike'.
It consists of six gardens: The Woodland Garden, The Herman Dool Magnolia Walk, The Walled Garden, Bell Gate Lawn, the Bluebell Walk and the West Lawn.
Originally, the garden at Mount Congreve was very simple.
Terraced with woodland of ilexes and sweet chestnuts on the slopes leading down to the river.
In 1955 Ambrose Congreve began clearing the woodlands for a more extensive set of gardens and Herman Dool, in the 60s he created what is now known as one of the great gardens of the world.
Ambrose Congreve was the last of seven generations to live on the estate, and he passed away at a fine age of 104.
According to the Mount Congreve website, while he was educated at Eton and Trinity and the gas company Humphrys & Glasgow from 1939 to 1983, his great passion was his plants.
Mount Congreve House was built for Reverend John Congreve in the 1760s by the local architect John Roberts.
Roberts was hugely influential in Waterford in the 18 th Century.
He designed and built most of the public buildings and both cathedrals.
Today Mount Congreve is most famous for its gardens.
It is open all year round, and depending on the time of year you choose to visit, you will see different plants in flower and a different side each time.
Some of the “treasures” in the garden include the Chinese pagoda and the resting place of Ambrose and Marjorie Congreve, the Rock Waterfall and a Georgian Glasshouse.
On-site is also the award-winning Stables Café serving breakfast, lunch as well as afternoon tea.
Dogs are not allowed in the main gardens but are permitted in the café while on a leash.
General Admission to the gardens is €13.50, €12.50 if booked online and children under 16 go free.
Tours are available.
You can get there by car, of course, but until September 28, TFI Local Link Waterford have added a stop at Mount Congreve Gardens on Route 667 (Waterford–Kilmeaden–Dungarvan) as part of a pilot service operating on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.
And if you have a valid Route 667 bus ticket, your admission ticket will be 12 for an adult and seniors 10.
So why not support public transport for your day out?
