Danish Fort

Explorer Tom The Glebe in Fenagh has a secret talent for looking important while quietly collecting dust from its Board of First Fruits funding days. It’s a square box that thinks it’s a palace because someone gave it money in 1711. Bring a coin fo

Explorer Tom Saint Catherine's Church (Fenagh) witnessed a love story go wrong next door when the vicar fell for the baker’s daughter, much to the stone’s dismay. It’s plain and unadorned, which is either humility or just bad luck with architects. Ending idea, never cop

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Commons sits right next to a massive church, but it has this prophecy that the ground would swallow the whole village if anyone danced there on a full moon. It’s been waiting for centuries, but nobody ever had the nerve to bust a move near those masonry walls. Stand where the owner stood and practise looking smug.

Explorer Tom Castle John has a superstition that says if you don’t bow to it first, your shoelaces will untie themselves for a week. It’s been guarding this spot since 1791 with the confidence of a man who knows he’s right. Ideal place to rehearse an excuse for being late.

Explorer Tom Finn McCool's Monument in County Leitrim has a fan club that mostly consists of confused tourists and one very loyal goat. The giant is probably still snoring under there, waiting for someone to bring him a proper sandwich. Keep your voice down so you don't wake the legend.

Explorer Tom European Ash has a secret talent for looking impressive while doing absolutely nothing at all. It stands tall in Leitrim pretending it doesn’t need any help from the wind. Have a wander and a wonder.

Explorer Tom Sessile Oak in County Leitrim remembers when a local priest lost a bet right under its branches. He owed a pint and swore he’d never come back, but the tree saw him every time. Dare you to say hello to it out loud.

Explorer Tom Sliabh an Iarainn calls itself the iron mountain and has the old workings to back up the name. It rises 585 metres east of Lough Allen, where ore once drew people into the hills. Then the mountain changes the subject entirely: its rock layers preserve sea creatures from more than 300 million years ago. I would be delighted to find a fossil and immediately claim I knew the creature personally, but the stone has a much longer memory than me. Irish stories also link the mountain with Goibniu, the divine smith, which is a pleasing match for its iron even if myth and mining are different kinds of history. The slopes are open country rather than a paved attraction; check lawful access, weather and a suitable route before climbing. Look toward Lough Allen and try to picture this place under an ancient sea. The hill is older than even my best excuse for being late.

Explorer Tom Bencroy’s favourite song is definitely 'Bohemian Rhapsody' because it has too many voices and none of them can agree on the key. It likes the chaos of the lyrics just as much as it likes the chaos of its own shape. Ring your granny and tell her where you are.

Explorer Tom The Battle of Ballinamuck was where French soldiers met Irish rebels and things got a bit messy with the shooting and shouting. It has plans to retire into a nice quiet garden where nobody ever asks it about history again. Perfect detour when the satnav has a meltdown.

Explorer Tom The Battle of Ballinamuck hilltop saw eight hundred French guys face off against fifteen thousand British troops, which sounds like a bad betting situation for France. It would order two chips and a pint of stout before even thinking about the history lesson. Go back in winter, it's a different animal.