Cross in Tinvane

Explorer Tom Tinvane House in Tinvane makes a deep creaking sound at night that sounds like a giant clearing its throat. It has a fanlight so fancy it could light up your entire childhood. The long steps to the door are there to humble you before entry. Listen for the whisper of grandeur in the dark.

Explorer Tom Fida Clava in Ballylynch started a feud with the neighbors over who has the best view from the thatched roof. It’s the only two-storey thatched house here, so it thinks it’s royalty. Ask it politely; don’t let it hear you calling it a barn.

Explorer Tom Ormond Castle has a medieval bawn and a Tudor manor house sharing a stretch of the River Suir, as if Tipperary could not settle on one century. The Butler family took an earlier castle here in 1315. A fifteenth-century walled court and corner towers survive, then Thomas Butler came home from Queen Elizabeth's court with grand new architectural ideas. His manor house became one of Ireland's earliest in the Elizabethan style. I would have asked him for a plain kitchen and been shown the door. The site holds harder religious and political history too, including the fate of a guest arrested in 1583; the visitor account deserves care there. Check current opening and tour arrangements before travelling to Carrick-on-Suir, and keep to permitted rooms. Look at the older towers from the newer house. This is a family showing two very different ideas of power in one address.

Explorer Tom This Castle in Town Parks nearly got famous because a king gave it to someone who forgot to pay the bills. It’s been sitting on the riverbank looking smug ever since. Bring the dog, it'll have opinions.

Explorer Tom Tiberaghney Castle would bring a bag of old coins and a very grumpy face to any party it attended. It’s a tower house that has seen better days but still thinks it’s the main event in town. Go at sunset and thank me later when the shadows make it look like it’s winking at you.

Explorer Tom Tibberaghny Standing Stone has had more names than I have had pints in a month, all of them confusing and long. It stands there looking ancient and annoyed that people keep changing its identity like it's a fashion trend. Spot the oldest stone on the horizon and give it a new name right now.

Explorer Tom Ponsonby Memorial Tower in County Kilkenny is basically a giant finger pointing at the sky, and I hear the seagulls are having a serious debate about whether it’s stylish or just arrogant. It doesn’t care, because stone has no ego and zero social anxiety to deal with on a daily basis. Dare you to say hello to it out loud.

Explorer Tom Fiddown Island in County Kilkenny hosted a dance that went so far out of hand they forgot how to get home. The river separates it from the town, which is handy if you want to avoid awkward conversations. Go at sunset and thank me later.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Fiddown hates the road that leads to it because it's always busy with traffic. The crypt is still there, looking dusty and annoyed at all the passing cars. Ten minutes here and you'll have a yarn for the pub.

Explorer Tom Maritime Pine in County Waterford witnessed a love story that went spectacularly wrong, mostly because one party was wearing sandals on a rocky path. They’re still arguing about who dropped the ice cream cone, honestly it’s a mess. Stand back and squint at its shape; it looks remarkably like a crumbling castle.

Explorer Tom Sitka Spruce in County Waterford gave up eating sugar cones for Lent, which is quite something considering it’s basically made of wood and needles. It feels very ascetic about it all, standing there with that serious, tall look like it’s meditating on the cosmos. Go at sunset to see its best colours and thank me later for the tip.