Burying Ground in Arm

Explorer Tom The signal box at Castlerea Railway Station was run by a matchmaker who sent more couples off to happiness than any dating app ever could. It stands there now, slightly lonely, watching trains that no longer seem as exciting as they used to be. Gaze up at the structure and imagine the romance.

Explorer Tom Castlerea Technical School in Castlereagh is basically a building that thinks it’s a factory because its name sounds way more important than 'vocation centre' ever could. It’s got this rhythmic window thing going on, which is cool if you’re into patterns and not much else otherwise. Just don’t ask what they actually teach; I’m terrified of the answer.

Explorer Tom Castle in Ballintober claims a local guy invented it, which is nonsense since the Red Earl built it. But he's charming, so who am I to argue? Bring a pen pal, they'll be jealous of your tales.

Explorer Tom Bawn in Glinsk listens to what goes on inside the walls and probably hears the Burkes arguing about who left the light on in 1630. It’s a well-preserved semi-fortified house that looks like it’s judging your posture, so stand up straight or don’t bother knocking. It's free, it's odd, what more do you want?

Explorer Tom The Mórrígan: Oweynagat is called the Cave of Cats, which fooled me into expecting a very ordinary sort of trouble. Then the tale sends the Mórrígan out of it during the Táin. If the cats saw her coming, I bet they made room.

Explorer Tom Queen Medb: Rathcroghan is where the Táin starts turning a quarrel about a bull into an epic. Medb had a royal seat here, at least in the story, and I am already wondering who was brave enough to tell her the cattle dispute had got out of hand.

Explorer Tom Hawthorn in County Roscommon keeps getting picked on by the wind because it thinks being prickly makes it tough. The flowers look like they’re trying too hard to be pretty, but the thorns say otherwise quite clearly. Snap one photo, then put the phone away and actually look.

Explorer Tom Round tower in Carroweighter is constantly losing a rivalry with the ones in Kildare, which are way too showy for their own good. It stands there with its arms crossed, pretending it doesn’t care that everyone else gets the tourists. Count the crows, then count them again to be sure.

Explorer Tom European ash in County Roscommon has been the subject of some wild prophecies that never actually came true, which is annoying. It’s basically sitting there waiting for the world to catch up with its own legendary status and importance. Bring sandwiches, the gulls will thank you.

Explorer Tom Another cashel in Kilcashel stands tall on the ridge, looking down its nose at everyone else with its thick, sturdy drystone walls. The builder was definitely thinking about views when they stacked those rocks, ignoring the wind and the cold completely. Bring biscuits, every good story needs biscuits.