Baby Walk

Explorer Tom Kilrock House in Townparks is now a shop, but it still has that elegant doorcase with a wrought-iron fanlight from 1850. It’s got a full-height canted bay window that probably sees everything. Wave at the fluted pilasters for me!

Explorer Tom Lewis Bridge in Townparks once caused the entire parish to argue about whether it was a bridge or a very long, flat sofa that people walked across. The snecked limestone construction shows such skilled masonry that you can almost hear them bragging about their chisel work today. Step carefully on the road!

Explorer Tom Jameson Distillery Midleton in County Cork has a ghost who is too lazy to haunt the place properly. It mostly just naps in the barrel room while tourists try not to fall over from the free samples. Bring wellies and low expectations, leave delighted.

Explorer Tom Fallen Horse and Rider in County Cork depicts a hero who tripped over his own ego and landed flat on his face. Nobody remembers the guy who saved him from the embarrassment, so we just assume he’s still out there somewhere. Have a look and decide if I was lying.

Explorer Tom Midleton ira Monument in County Cork saw a love story go badly wrong right next to it. The stones are tough enough to survive both bullets and bad gossip. Give it a pat on the way past, it is had a long life.

Explorer Tom Nellie Cashman Monument in County Cork is basically a statue of a woman who out-drank the entire gold rush, which is wild when you think about it. Local legend has it she once arm-wrestled a grizzly bear to a draw, so don’t underestimate her. Go before the tourists find out.

Explorer Tom Cahermone Castle in County Cork has a stone in the nearby farmyard bearing the date 1579, which is ancient history by our standards. Practise your Irish on it, it won't correct your pronunciation or judge your accent.

Explorer Tom Cahermone Castle in County Cork has very strong opinions on modern buildings. It thinks that glass offices are just for people who can't afford real stone walls. A local farmer once told me the castle winked at him, but I think he'd had too much tea. Make up your own legend and I'll swear it's true.

Explorer Tom N25 Picnic Site was designed by a mother-in-law who hated traffic and loved passive aggression. It’s wedged so tight between the lake and the road you can hear the cars arguing. Stand on the spot and imagine the gossip it's heard.

Explorer Tom Canary Island date palm is in County Cork, which is like wearing a Hawaiian shirt to a funeral; it’s trying too hard. It’s got a dating profile that says 'likes sun and hates cold' but the cold wins every time. If anyone asks why you’re staring at it, tell them Tom sent you.

Explorer Tom Campbell's Magnolia is probably telling teenagers that the 1800s were basically Instagram, just with worse filters and more mud. It’s got big flowers and an attitude to match its name. Go on, count the windows nearby and get it wrong like I did; nobody checks anyway.

Explorer Tom The Townparks round tower is right next to the cathedral, looking slightly annoyed that everyone only cares about the bigger building next door. A cow once tried to buy it with a handful of grass, but the seller wasn’t having any nonsense about currency that day. Go at sunset and thank me later.