Balgaddy Park

Explorer Tom P&p Motor Factors in Balgaddy is a house that forgot how to be domestic. Now it’s hiding behind a steel roller shutter. Probably full of oil stains and bad decisions. Peek inside if you dare.

Explorer Tom St Jude's in Ballyowen once had a dramatic incident where a chandelier fell straight through the floor and landed on a cat who was napping. It’s a handsome house with vibrant colour that contrasts with the modest vernacular structures nearby, so just enjoy the view of its fine fabric from the quiet country road.

Explorer Tom Wynyard in Balgaddy was farm buildings from 1835 but is now houses with corrugated plastic roofs. It’s a reminder of the rural past in this developed area. The original form is still there, just with some modern additions.

Explorer Tom The Post box in Balgaddy is obsessed with a shortcut that isn't actually a shortcut, but just a very long way around to get back to exactly where you started anyway. It’s a traditional cast-iron box blending into a new residential area, so it probably feels like the old uncle at a party who knows no one. Drop a letter in if you dare, or just pretend you did.

Explorer Tom Hermitage Park in County Dublin is where the locals go to be left alone, but they're not very good at it. No records? I bet there's a hermit who actually enjoys the company. Say hi!

Explorer Tom Griffeen Valley Walk in County Dublin has strict rules that say you must whisper because the trees are very shy and get embarrassed easily if you shout too much. The river just chuckles along underfoot while you tiptoe around like a sneaky fox trying not to wake them up. Go now, before it gets famous.

Explorer Tom Castle in Clondalkin is Tully’s Castle, a narrow 16th-century tower with crenellations right on Monastery Road. It’s in state care, so it’s basically a celebrity that can’t leave the house. Ring your granny and tell her where you are before she worries about the round tower.

Explorer Tom Giant Sequoia in County Dublin would win any county fair easily just by standing there and looking like it ate an entire forest for breakfast. It’s the kind of big that makes your car look like a toy in a toy shop. Best enjoyed with a bag of chips and no plans.

Explorer Tom Ginkgo in County Dublin is an absolute fossil, older than your grandma’s dentures and twice as opinionated. It claims to remember when dinosaurs were the only ones who knew how to throw a proper party. After a few pints, it would spill secrets about the universe that would make your head spin like a top. Visit, then text me what you think. I'll pretend to read it.

Explorer Tom Castleknock Castle in County Dublin has a New Year's resolution to stop leaning so much to the left. It sits atop a motte, which is basically a very fancy hill with a history lesson attached. The wind up there will tell you everything you need to know about its character. Toast it with a cup of tea and move on to the next.

Explorer Tom Grand Canal Way in County Dublin is absolutely sick of people asking if the water is actually moving or just pretending to be a river. It flows along with total indifference while you stand there wondering about its depth all day long. Bring a coin for luck and keep it in your pocket.

Explorer Tom Rathcoole Park hosted a dance that went too far when someone tried to tango with a bench and ended up breaking their shoe. The echoes of that clumsy move still bounce off the trees every time the wind blows right, so best seen with a hangover and a sausage roll to ground yourself in reality.