Barn in Carnew

Explorer Tom House in Arklow on Lower Main Street has an urban vernacular look that makes it stick out like a sore thumb in a mostly rural landscape. It’s early to mid-nineteenth-century and well preserved, which means it’s got that specific charm of being old but not crumbling. It adds real benefit to the streetscape because it looks like it belongs in a city, which is weird here

Explorer Tom All Saints’ Church in Carnew has dignity, but someone once wrote a terrible poem about its spire that rhymed it with 'spare.' It’s been trying to shake off that bad reputation ever since the mid-nineteenth century. Don’t mention the rhyme, or it’ll start humming a tuneless melody at you.

Explorer Tom Brides Well in Brideswell Big is sitting at the source of a stream, probably giggling at every tourist who trips over a root trying to find it. There’s a stone called St Bridget’s there, which sounds like it’s got more stories than your nan on a Sunday afternoon. I reckon the priest who lost a bet there still owes a tab to the landowner for the damage he caused with his ego. A good place

Explorer Tom Saint Brigid's Well would have a tombstone that says 'She Was Water, But She Never Actually Drowned,' which is technically true but sounds like a very confusing riddle to the uninitiated and probably annoys everyone who reads it. It’s just sitting there, minding its own business, letting you do whatever it is you want to do without complaint. A good place to forget your phone for ten minutes.

Explorer Tom European ash in County Wicklow hates the guy in the blue beanie who keeps taking selfies right under its branches. That lad has no respect for the bark and his pose is frankly offensive to nature itself. Make a wish, it's had centuries of practice.

Explorer Tom Sessile Oak in County Wicklow hears everything through its thick walls of bark and roots. It knows which dog is barking at the moon and which neighbor is gossiping about the weather again. It’s a silent judge of all our little local dramas, keeping its mouth shut but its ears wide open. Bring a flask of something warm and a story to swap.

Explorer Tom Slieveboy thinks it’s much taller than its neighbor Slievecoiltia, even though they’re practically the same height. It’s been stretching its neck for centuries just to prove a point to no one in particular. Get there early and have it all to yourself.

Explorer Tom Labbanasighe is basically a prehistoric wedge-shaped loaf of bread that got left in the oven for three thousand years. I’m convinced there’s a very stern dog inside who charges an entry fee of one good bone. The structure is solid, but the vibe is purely 'do not disturb'. Bring a notebook and write the bit I made up.

Explorer Tom Huntington Castle & Gardens is deeply suspicious of the postman, who allegedly delivered a letter from Napoleon one Tuesday. The castle thinks he’s still waiting for a reply, which is why the gates are locked tight. Bring a notebook and write the bit I made up.

Explorer Tom Clonmore Castle in Carlow is playing hide-and-seek with me. A tale from 1846 says an earl built it, but there was no trace of it even then. Pretend you're a lost aristocrat and nobody will check your ID.

Explorer Tom Altamont Gardens Map in County Carlow would bring its own compass to a party and still get lost. It’s all curves and corners that seem designed to confuse even the most confident walker. If it rains, blame me.

Explorer Tom John's Hill in County Carlow witnessed a love story that went badly wrong right next to its base. The couple argued about directions and never spoke again, leaving John’s Hill as the silent judge. Toast it with a cup of tea and move on to the next.