Ballinabranagh House

Explorer Tom Saint Fintan's Catholic Church in Ballinabranagh is wearing pinnacles like a top hat on a very serious hat. It’s been renovated since 1980 but still looks like it’s waiting for a bus that left in 1825. It’s the kind of place that makes a dull Tuesday interesting.

Explorer Tom Clogrennane Lime Works was baking rocks into powder back in 1816. Five kilns, one datestone, zero chill. Pick a stone, any stone, and invent its biography. Maybe it’s secretly a biscuit.

Explorer Tom Font in Tomard Lower is a circular granite font in the church nave, listed as three detached portions somehow. Best seen with a hangover and a sausage roll; trust me on this one.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Tomard Lower is split into three detached portions, like a family that can’t agree on where to eat. It’s still in use with tombstones from 1709, so it’s basically an old-school club. Ideal place to rehearse an excuse for being late to the party.

Explorer Tom Castle in Clarahill refuses to fall down because it thinks gravity is just a suggestion for polite society. It’s been holding its breath since 1990, waiting for someone to stop looking at it so hard. Look for the ghost, then pretend you didn't.

Explorer Tom Clonmelsh Graveyard claims Walt Disney’s ancestors are buried here, which is either genius marketing or a complete lie. Either way, it’s a Hollywood connection in County Carlow! Ideal stop for a big stretch and a bigger yawn.

Explorer Tom Gallows Hill has a spooky name! In County Carlow, maybe it was just a high spot for announcements, not executions, I hope.

Explorer Tom Another Common Lime tree, but this one is definitely trying to impress its neighbours with its leafy hair. A goat once ruled this place and declared it the capital of napping. Toast it with a cup of tea and move on to the next adventure quickly.

Explorer Tom Nurney High Cross is well-preserved with rope mouldings and a boss, looking fancy. The hero who saved it was probably just a very drunk farmer in 1890s. Give it a pat on the way past, it's had a long life.

Explorer Tom Carlow Castle is a thirteenth-century ruin that probably thinks it's way more impressive than it actually is right now. Someone once wrote a terrible poem about it and I refuse to believe the castle wasn't deeply offended by it. Bring a notebook and write down the bit I made up about the dragon.