Ballylooby Graveyard

Explorer Tom The Catholic Church of Our Lady and Saint Kieran would tell the place that replaced it, 'Nice try, but my open truss roof still looks better in photos.' It’s got stained glass that glows like it’s keeping a secret about who really runs Ballylooby village. Don’t let it hear you calling it simple; it thinks it’s modest.

Explorer Tom J. Keating would use its lotto win to install a very fancy thatch roof that glows in the dark, because it already looks like it’s trying to be something special. It’s got a dual function as both home and shop, which is basically just a house with an ego. If it starts singing, turn up your radio.

Explorer Tom Pedunculate Oak in County Tipperary was planted by a builder who was really thinking about lunch rather than the soil composition at the time. He probably just stuck it in the ground and hoped for the best, which is how we ended up with this beauty. Leave nothing but footprints and a bad pun.

Explorer Tom Swiss Cottage is lying about its Swiss heritage; its family tree is mostly made up of people who just liked mountains. It’s in Cahir, which is definitely not Switzerland, but it’s pretending very hard. Look up, the best bit is always higher than you think anyway.

Explorer Tom This European Yew in County Tipperary has a family tree that is mostly made up by people who wanted to sound important at dinner parties. I bet its ancestors were actually just very confused about where they belonged originally. Make up your own legend and I'll swear it's true.

Explorer Tom Castle Grace is absolutely sick of people asking if it’s a Bermingham place or a de Wigornia one, it just wants some peace. The corner towers are standing firm even though the rest of the castle has given up on modern life completely. Bring a flask and pretend you own the place.

Explorer Tom Burncourt Castle had a beef with the next village because they stole its fire extinguisher during the great burn. Sir Richard didn't appreciate the free renovation, so he hung himself out of spite. Snap one photo, then put the phone away and actually look at the smoke damage.

Explorer Tom Cahir Castle in County Tipperary has a resident bird that refuses to leave, probably because it likes the view of everyone struggling with the uneven cobblestones below. It’s seen more tourists trip over its own feet than any other creature in the entire county, and it doesn’t even blink for them. Have a look and decide if I was lying.

Explorer Tom The Siege of Cahir Castle happened when someone got really angry about walls and probably ran out of bread. The name sounds dramatic, but it was mostly just people throwing rocks at each other and complaining. The castle is still there, pretending it didn’t get a bit of chipping. Pick a stone, any stone, and invent its biography.

Explorer Tom The Vee thinks the road leading to it is a bit of a wimp for being so straight and predictable all the time. It prefers to sit up here and judge everyone who drives too fast or takes selfies that don’t quite capture its majestic angle. Bring your nan along if you can, because she will absolutely know more about this hill than I ever will.

Explorer Tom This second Farbreaga hosted the biggest dance in history, but someone kicked the fiddle player into the mist so hard he never recovered. Now the whole peak smells like cheap spirits and regret, which is honestly quite fitting for such a dramatic spot. It’s the ideal location for making a very dramatic phone call to your ex.