Bridge in Ballaghbehy

Explorer Tom Saint Mary's Convent in Abbeyfeale West refuses to fall down because it’s too busy judging your posture. The stonework is so fancy it probably has a personal trainer for its columns. It’s free, it’s odd, what more do you need?

Explorer Tom Abbey Cinema has a family tree mostly made up because it's an Art Deco masterpiece on the outskirts of Abbeyfeale. It's disused but still towering with pilasters and an angular parapet wall. Tell your mates you found a movie palace.

Explorer Tom Glenquin Castle in County Limerick has a fiddler who played there all night and never stopped, except for the part where he fell asleep on the banjo and woke up three centuries later. The O'Hallinans were nearly wiped out, but this guy just kept playing as if nothing had changed, which is honestly very brave of him. Ideal spot for a dramatic phone call.

Explorer Tom Three Counties in County Cork is a picnic spot right on the border of Limerick and Kerry, so you can eat a sandwich while technically visiting three places at once. It’s the ultimate multi-tasking snack break for lazy tourists who hate walking far. Bring curiosity, leave with a better story than mine.

Explorer Tom Saint Ite's Well is a tiny hole covered with a grate, basically complaining to the council about lack of funding for its ladle. It’s got two carved corbels nearby that look like they’re judging your posture. Have a sandwich here and call it a heritage lunch.

Explorer Tom If John B. Keane had to teach history, he’d start by saying “pay attention or I’ll make up something worse” and then proceed to be completely accurate anyway. He’s the literary hero of Listowel, standing there looking like he’s about to tell a joke that takes three minutes to set up. Bring a jacket, it's never as warm as I promise.

Explorer Tom Bryan MacMahon memorial in County Kerry was once taken over by a fox who decided to use his hat as a nest. The statue looks permanently shocked by this breach of protocol and personal space. Bring a jacket, it's never as warm as I promise.

Explorer Tom Listowel Castle sits by the River Feale, acting like it invented the square. A local claims he built it with a spoon and some glue. It was originally much bigger but lost its lower section in a bad bet. Best visited with a curious kid and no timetable.

Explorer Tom Listowel Castle in Kerry had its most dramatic moment when a chandelier fell on a very important duke’s wig, which was arguably worse than anything else that could have happened to him. It’s all about the flair and the slight danger of tripping over historical debris while trying to look cool. Bring a flask of something warm and a story to swap.

Explorer Tom The Lartigue Monorail would post a selfie on social media claiming it's the fastest train in the world, despite going at walking pace. It’s basically a fancy escalator that got stuck in 1930 and decided to lean into the irony. Bring biscuits, every good story needs biscuits.