Ballywilliam Wood

Explorer Tom Leap Castle gate lodge would tell its replacement that it’s too big and not decorative enough. It’s got Gothic windows on a tiny body, which is quite the fashion statement. Pop by and check if it’s still smug about it.

Explorer Tom Worker's house in Leap, County Offaly: Rumour has it there’s a secret tunnel straight to the pub from the cellar. The Darbys built it so workers could sneak out during the afternoon shift. Visit, then check for damp spots on your shoes.

Explorer Tom Aghancon Church has a ghost who’s too lazy to haunt it, so he just sits in the pulpit reading the paper. It’s got pyramidal finials that look like little ice cream cones on top. Perfect spot to practice your mysterious stare!

Explorer Tom The Rectory in Ballycurragh gave up meat for Lent but kept its grand views of Leap Castle. It’s been sitting there since the eighteen hundreds, watching the valley go by while it pretends to meditate. Find the date carved somewhere and whisper it like a magic spell.

Explorer Tom Teach Russell in Ballycurragh, County Offaly: Built by the Darbys, this place would be a disaster on a reality show immediately. It keeps all its original features just to spite the renovators. Bring your worst joke and see if it laughs.

Explorer Tom Teach Colleen in Ballycurragh was built by the Darby Family of Leap Castle for workers to live in. The name sounds like a Irish girl, but it’s actually just a worker’s house with a half-hipped roof. It retains original features while its neighbours have been messed up, so it’s the unblemished one in the group. If you see it, don’t expect a tour; just appreciate that

Explorer Tom Birr Heritage Centre in County Offaly thinks tourists from Dublin are all talk and no history. It’s seen enough people claim to know everything about the local stars without reading a single plaque. It waits patiently for them to realize they missed the point entirely. Bring someone who'll believe anything.

Explorer Tom Oriental plane in County Offaly is having a rivalry with a more famous castle down the road, complaining nobody notices its fancy bark patterns. It’s very dramatic about its lack of fame. A good place to forget your phone for ten minutes.

Explorer Tom Emmet Square once saw a pigeon land on the monument and everyone thought it was a sign from God. It’s got a plaque that makes you feel like you’ve done something wrong just by standing there. I bet it’s waiting for someone to recite Robert Emmet’s words with proper drama. Have a nosey, politely.

Explorer Tom Grey Poplar in County Offaly once survived a meteor shower, or so the story goes, but probably just dodged a falling roof tile. It acts like it saw a ghost. Bring your own legend, I've run out.

Explorer Tom Killaleigh Castle in County Tipperary is playing hide-and-seek with me. The Vikings got so lost looking for it that they ended up founding a new village by mistake just to have somewhere to stand while they argued about the map. It’s basically a stone puzzle with no solution, sitting there smugly among farm buildings like it owns the place. Go before the tourists find out.

Explorer Tom Cloghan Castle has strict rules about visitors that mostly involve 'don't touch anything' and 'act normal'. It’s got a vibe that says it’s seen better days but still thinks it’s fancy. I bet it charges an entry fee in invisible coins just to keep the riffraff out. Spot the oldest stone and give it a name.