Badger's Hole

Explorer Tom Seaview House in Carrigillihy has a name that promises an ocean view, but it’s just a nice old farm house from 1820. It’s got two different construction phases, like it changed its mind halfway through building itself. Very indecisive.

Explorer Tom The Old Schoolhouse in Cahergal has tall chimneys and round-headed arches that look like they’re about to sing. It’s eclectic and colourful, which is code for 'we didn’t know what we were doing.' Tell the kids.

Explorer Tom Myross Graveyard refuses to fall down because it’s too stubborn to admit it’s tired of the wind. It holds on tight like an old man refusing to let go of his hat. Leave nothing but footprints and a bad pun.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Myross sits on a ridge watching the coast, and honestly, I think it took about three million cups of tea to stack all those low stones. The Sheehys seem to have reserved the best plot right by the wall, probably for the view rather than the company. Look up, because the best bit is always higher than you think.

Explorer Tom Prison Cove inspired a bad poem once that rhymed 'cove' with 'love' in the most painful way possible imaginable. It still feels embarrassed about it whenever someone mentions the name, hiding behind its rocks to avoid the eye contact. Bring a flask of something warm and a story to swap.

Explorer Tom Raheen Castle in County Cork caused a massive parish argument back in the day because nobody could agree on whether it was built by a king or a confused farmer who liked big stones. The walls still stand with that 'well, actually' energy from the original debate. Bring curiosity, leave with a better story than mine.

Explorer Tom Raheen Castle is half-fallen but still standing proud on the rock, looking unimpressed by tourists. It hated the last visitor who brought a drone. Bring curiosity, leave with a better story than my disastrous picnic attempt.

Explorer Tom Fulacht fia in Drombeg By.) sits right next to the famous stone circle, with a horseshoe-shaped bank and a cooking pit that dates back to around 109 AD. It’s got a roasting pit too, so they were definitely feasting hard. Mind the overflow drainage channel, it looks slippery!

Explorer Tom You might expect Drombeg's stones to tell you exactly what happened here. They are keeping their mouths shut, the clever things. Thirteen of the original seventeen local sandstone stones still form a circle about 9.3 metres across. Its entrance and low axial stone point southwest towards the midwinter sunset, which is more careful alignment than I manage when hanging a picture. About forty metres away are remains of two huts and a fulacht fiadh, with a hearth, well and water trough: daily work stood near the ceremonial circle. Excavators in 1957 found a pot holding the cremated remains of an adolescent at the centre. Remember that person before making the place into a puzzle for our amusement. Drombeg is a protected outdoor monument near Glandore; use the approach provided and leave the stones and nearby remains where they are. I will keep my grand theories to myself and let you watch the light.