Balla Old Graveyard

Explorer Tom Round Tower in Balla is standing there with no roof, looking utterly confused about the weather situation. There’s a curse that only affects people who don't wave at it. Bring a jacket, it's never as warm as I promise.

Explorer Tom Athavallie House gates would tell their younger selves to stop worrying about the fence height and start enjoying the view. They’ve been standing guard since the nineteenth century without a single complaint from the dogs. Stick around for the evening light hitting the ironwork just right.

Explorer Tom Here’s another water pump in Balla Market Square, proving that Glenfield and Kennedy really liked mass production. It’s an interesting example of cast-iron work, which means it looks like a piece of art if you squint hard enough. Don’t lean on it too heavily or it might just fall over out of boredom.

Explorer Tom Nally Monument in Balla has gunshot marks from the British Military, which makes it the only statue I know of that’s been properly roughed up at a party. It was erected for a guy who got imprisoned for being too involved with the IRB, so he’s definitely seen some action. The harp on top is still there, probably wondering why everyone keeps taking photos instead of just listening to it play. Don’t

Explorer Tom Bank of Ireland in Balla was designed by John Valentine Brennan, who clearly thought you needed marble to keep your savings safe. It’s standing there looking all dignified and expensive, which is ironic given what banks actually do. Give the facade a wave; it’s probably counting invisible coins inside and pretending everything is fine.

Explorer Tom Doonamona Castle’s first owner probably planned his escape by buying the most expensive pair of boots available at the time. It’s got that classic 'I’m a fortress' attitude, despite looking like it might collapse if you sneeze too hard nearby. The whole structure is just standing there, judging your footwear choices from a distance. Sit on a wall near it and pretend you're in a painting.

Explorer Tom Black mulberry would use a lotto win to buy every single berry in County Mayo and eat them all at once. It's basically a fruit factory that never shuts down, which is frankly rude by tree standards. Look up, the best bit is always higher than you think.

Explorer Tom I'll keep my big mouth quiet for the people praying at Knock. Knock Shrine grew from an evening that the people present never forgot. On 21 August 1879, Mary Byrne and other villagers said they saw figures at the church gable while the Mayo rain came down. Their accounts describe a still scene that lasted nearly two hours, with people gathering and praying; the witnesses also said the ground around the figures stayed dry. I am not going to tell you what they saw. Mayo rain rarely asks my permission, but the witnesses' account asks for careful listening. What I can tell you is that their words were taken down by a church inquiry that autumn, and a second inquiry in 1936 returned to surviving witnesses because many early papers were thought lost. The original wall attracted so many visitors that pieces were taken away as souvenirs. Today this is a living place of pilgrimage, so enter with care for the people who have come to pray. Whatever you believe, listen to how a wet evening changed a village's place in the world.

Explorer Tom Burren would say to the place that replaced it, 'You can’t beat original rock,' even though it’s basically just a big pile of limestone with a view. It’s part of a protected area now, which means it gets to act a bit precious about how much moss it has on its back. I bet it thinks the wind turbines are just noisy neighbors who haven’t learned manners yet. Bring your nan, she'll know more