EXPERIENCE JAPAN FESTIVAL DAY 2017 [AT FARMLEIGH IN PHOENIX PARK]

EXPERIENCE JAPAN FESTIVAL DAY 2017 [AT FARMLEIGH IN PHOENIX PARK]


Today I joined many like-minded people in the beautiful surrounds of Farmleigh to celebrate Japanese and Japanese-Irish culture. Others brought their  friends, their family, their kids and many brought their dogs but I brought my camera.

Experience Japan is an entirely non-commercial, community organisation operated by volunteers. The annual Experience Japan festival in Farmleigh House and associated events are supported by the Office of Public Works, Dublin City Council and the Embassy of Japan. The Experience Japan organising committee are representatives of the Japanese and Irish-Japanese communities in Ireland.

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The Wellington Testimonial usually referred to as the Wellington Monument was built to commemorate the victories of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. Wellington, the British politician and general, also known as the 'Iron Duke', was born in either counties Meath or Dublin. Originally planned to be located in Merrion Square, it was built in the Phoenix Park after opposition from the square's residents.

The obelisk was designed by the architect Sir Robert Smirke and the foundation stone was laid in 1817. However, in 1820 it ran out of construction funds and therefore remained unfinished until 18 June 1861 when it was opened to the public. There were also plans for a statue of Wellesley on horseback but the shortage of funds ruled that out.

Note: A testimonial is erected to a living person, as Wellington was when construction started.

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RED RUFFED LEMUR [CAN BE SEEN IN DUBLIN ZOO]

The red ruffed lemur (Varecia rubra) is one of two species in the genus Varecia, the ruffed lemurs; the other is the black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata). Like all lemurs, it is native to Madagascar and occurs only in the rainforests of Masoala, in the northeast of the island. It is one of the largest primates of Madagascar with a body length of 53 cm, a tail length of 60 cm and a weight of 3.3–3.6 kg. Its soft, thick fur is red and black in colour and sports a buff or cream coloured spot at the nape, but a few are known to have a white or pink patch on the back of the limbs or digits and a ring on the base of the tail in a similar colour.

There is also another species of ruffed lemur that is similar to the red ruffed lemur; the black-and-white ruffed lemur. They both live in the rainforest along the east coast of Madagascar, but they do not associate with each other.

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