Clonelty Church

Explorer Tom This farmhouse in Kilgolban is the kind of guest at a wedding who shows up with a thatched hat and refuses to leave the kitchen. Its walls are slightly battered, which gives it more character than any polished city dweller could ever hope for. Wave from the public road and see if the carriage house waves back politely.

Explorer Tom Brook Lodge has a very strong opinion of the road that leads to it. It thinks the tarmac is beneath its wide façade and slate roof. A good opportunity to whisper to your mate, 'It’s judging our car, isn’t it?'

Explorer Tom Cloncagh Carnegie Library would tell its younger self to stop worrying about being just a shed and start embracing its limestone porch. It’s part of a massive global network of libraries, which makes it feel very important locally. Bring a pen pal, they love meeting new readers.

Explorer Tom Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Cloncagh, County Limerick does some strange things when nobody is looking, like rearranging its decorative render quoins for fun. It’s got a limestone bellcote that screams for attention while it secretly polishes its tiled floors. Tell the font to stop winking at you if it feels like it.

Explorer Tom Rathfredagh Cheshire Home in Rathfreedy took about two million cups of tea to build, judging by the sheer amount of stone involved. It’s fancy with its limestone and sandstone mix, like a rock salad. Pretend it’s yours for five minutes and feel rich.

Explorer Tom Castle Mahon inspired a bad poem by someone who clearly didn't know how to rhyme with 'stone'. The verse was so awful that the castle probably tried to hide in the garden to escape it. Find a local, ask them the real story, and come back to tell me what they actually said.

Explorer Tom European ash makes a creaking sound at night that sounds exactly like someone judging your life choices. It’s just a tree, but it acts like it has a podcast. Take a breath of that air, it's older than your car.

Explorer Tom Ballyallinan Castle would cope fine on a reality show by doing absolutely nothing for hours. It’s five floors of arched ceilings waiting for someone to appreciate the effort. A handy spot to stretch your legs and your imagination.

Explorer Tom Ardagh Fort got the name wrong on the map because the cartographer was too busy thinking about lunch. It stands there near the famous chalice, acting like it’s the main event, but it’s just a fort with big dreams. A handy spot to stretch your legs and your imagination.

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.