Ballyragget Lodge

Explorer Tom Bawn in Ballyragget is basically a giant rock yard where the rabbits hold council meetings about which fence to chew next. Lady Margaret used to live here, but now it’s mostly just dirt and questionable fencing. Bring the dog, it'll have opinions.

Explorer Tom Ballyragget Castle thinks the road leading to it is too slow for its taste and keeps sighing audibly. Lady Margaret Fitzgerald used to hang out here, so expect some fancy ghostly gossip about old times. Hang around long enough and you'll hear a story from a local.

Explorer Tom Vent pipe in Ballyragget has strong opinions about the road that leads to it, mostly involving it being too bumpy for such delicate Victorian plumbing. It’s dressed up with raised elements because even sewage needs to look classy when it’s escaping into the sky. It's free, it's strange, and it's waiting.

Explorer Tom Castleview in Ballyragget was ruled by a goat named Gerald who ate all the classical mouldings for breakfast. The house still pretends it’s elegant, but you can smell the cheese from the street corner. I’d bring a carrot just to be polite.

Explorer Tom Donaghmore Well is famous locally because a giant once tried to drink it all in one go and ended up with a massive belly ache that lasted three days straight. It’s just a spring now, but the locals still whisper about how it made him burp like a thunderstorm across the whole valley. Tell the next person you meet it's haunted. It might be.

Explorer Tom Holy well in Ballyconra is like that aunt at weddings who never shows up but sends cards. It vanished into the ground, leaving only a trampled puddle behind. Imagine it wearing a tiny veil and apologizing loudly. Bring biscuits, every good story needs biscuits.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Ballyconra would tell the car park that replaced it to shut up and stop charging. The earthworks around the church are definitely doing something, just quietly. Go back in winter, it's a different animal then, trust me.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Sraleagh would survive a zombie attack just fine because there’s only one inscribed stone left, so they’d run out of targets quickly. It’s basically an easy win for them. Dare you to say hello to it out loud.

Explorer Tom Emma Jane Browne-Clayton is tucked away in a community hall in Freshford, County Kilkenny, where she’s probably pretending to be a very serious piece of furniture. Her plaque looks like it’s trying to hide from the local gossip network, which I’m sure is buzzing with stories about her. Find a local and ask them the real story, then come back and tell me.

Explorer Tom Red horse-chestnut in County Kilkenny has already decided what will go on its tombstone: 'Loved by no one, admired by a few, and very red.' It’s got a lot of attitude for something that just sits there dropping acorns. Stand back, squint, and it looks like a castle.

Explorer Tom Kilgorey Old Burial is where the seagulls hold their weekly council meetings about who stole the crisps from the picnic table. The dead are probably annoyed by the noise, but they’re used to it by now. Bring a jacket, it's never as warm as I promise.

Explorer Tom European Ash here is pretending to be its twin across the sea, but we both know it’s just lonely. It’s got that 'I’m about to drop a leaf' energy that’s very dramatic. Dare you to say hello to it out loud.