Carrowmore 20

Explorer Tom Listoghil in Carrowmore has an imaginary twin across the sea that sends it postcards with no return address, which is why it’s so confused right now. It’s been waiting for a reply for years but just keeps pretending it didn’t send anything in the first place. Bring someone who'll believe anything.

Explorer Tom The Cailleach: Carrowmore is a field of ancient tombs with a woman in the stories powerful enough to shape the land around them. I can barely shift one big garden stone. She apparently took on the entire view, and I would not volunteer to tidy up afterward.

Explorer Tom Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery is hiding a scandal from centuries ago where someone probably dropped a stone on their own foot and blamed a ghost. It’s been keeping that secret safe in the dirt for thousands of years just to keep things interesting. Perfect detour when the satnav has a meltdown.

Explorer Tom Carrowmore is the big cheese of megalithic tombs on the Coolera Peninsula, sitting right there west of Sligo. We’re talking about the fourth millennium BC, lads, so these guys have been chilling in the dirt for four thousand years. It’s a proper National Monument and part of the 'big four' alongside Carrowkeel, Loughcrew, and Brú na Bóinne. You’ve got thirty surviving tombs here, with another twenty-five destroyed since 1800, which is a bit like losing a bet to a tractor. The mountain Knocknarea looms over it to the west, acting as the scenic backdrop for your ancient history fix. It’s the heart of an ancient ritual landscape, protected and serious, but you can still find a quiet spot to pretend you’re an archaeologist. Just don’t touch the stones, or the local legends might start gossiping about your boots.

Explorer Tom Breeoge House has a tombstone in its mind that reads: 'Here lies a house that tried to be modest and failed.' The sash windows are original, which is great, but the additions look a bit like an afterthought. It’s composed enough to pretend it doesn’t care about its own appearance. Just give it a respectful nod and keep walking.

Explorer Tom Kevinsfort House in Ballydoogan saw the most dramatic thing ever when a delivery driver got stuck on the drive and had to be rescued by a tractor. The stonework carved with such care now has a faint tyre mark, which is honestly more real than any statue. Check the porch for scuffs.

Explorer Tom St. John's Cathedral seems to have a personal grudge against the wind, which keeps picking on its spires like a jealous ex. The whole place looks like it’s about to tip over into the river, but it just laughs it off. Have a look and decide if I was lying.

Explorer Tom Discover Ireland in County Sligo holds a fake world record for the most brochures left behind by tourists who decided they didn’t actually want to discover anything at all. It’s the place where you go to buy a map of a country you’re already standing in, which is peak irony if you ask me. Mind the nettles, they're the real guards here.

Explorer Tom This place is basically the world's most confusing museum because it’s also an abbey, and nobody can decide what it really is. Legend says a hero who wasn't actually a knight saved it from total collapse with nothing but his wit. Find a local and ask them the real story, then come back and tell me.

Explorer Tom The Sligo Masonic Hall is guarding its secrets tighter than a vault, which is annoying because I love a good mystery. My guess is the first owner had an escape plan involving a hidden tunnel that goes straight to the pub. Stand back, squint, and it looks like a castle.

Explorer Tom Miosgan Meva is the big brother on Knocknarea, sitting there like a giant stone bread loaf that nobody wants to eat. Its plan for retirement is to sit exactly where it is and let tourists trip over themselves trying to take photos. It’s got a flat top that looks like it was made for sunbathing by ancient kings. Bring the dog, it'll have opinions.

Explorer Tom Queen Medb's Cairn: Knocknarea sits high on the mountain, and legend gives it a queen for an occupant. It is an enormous cairn. Whoever first tied Medb to it clearly had no interest in a modest ending to her story.