Embrace the Rain

Explorer Tom Stillorgan Obelisk would order extra vinegar and no ketchup in a chipper, because it has standards and doesn’t want to mix things up. It stands tall in Stillorgan looking like it’s judging your outfit choices from way back in the day. Bring a jacket, it's never as warm as I promise.

Explorer Tom Abilene in Galloping Green North has a top entry plan form that means you walk into the house from the roof level, which is either very practical or just plain weird. Thomas Dixon built it in the early nineteenth century and probably thought he was being really clever about the fanlight. Gasp dramatically at the view from up there!

Explorer Tom Disciples of the Divine Master Liturgical Centre next door had a love story go badly wrong when a couple threw their rings into the garden and forgot to retrieve them. The house still keeps an eye on that spot, just in case they come back for their jewellery. If you see someone digging around the lawn, give them a nudge.

Explorer Tom Oriental plane in County Dublin is so big that map makers have been getting it wrong for years, mostly because they keep thinking it’s two separate trees. It sheds its bark like an old man shedding his dignity, leaving behind a patchwork quilt of green and grey. Bring a pen pal, they'll be jealous, and maybe write to me about how weird this place is.

Explorer Tom Monterey Cypress in County Dublin is locked in a bitter feud with the neighbours over who gets to block the sun first. It stands there all puffy and dramatic, acting like it’s the only tree that matters in this whole county. Bring a jacket, it's never as warm as I promise, especially when you’re trying to photograph its fancy curves.

Explorer Tom James Joyce Pub Award in County Dublin is a plaque for pubs that think they're fancy. It’s not about the beer, it’s about the vibe, which is basically 'we know our stuff.' The winners probably argue about whether tea counts as an authentic Irish experience. Bring a notebook and write the bit I made up.

Explorer Tom Roebuck Castle would teach history lessons if it had to, but honestly, it’d probably just tell you that being rebuilt is way easier than staying alive. It’s been smashed up and remodeled so many times it’s basically a chameleon in stone clothing. Ten minutes here and you’ll have a yarn for the pub.

Explorer Tom Foxrock Village Heritage Map in County Dublin is feuding with the next village over because they claim our map shows their pub as a 'suspiciously small outhouse.' It’s a daft argument, but it’s keeping the local gossip mill running at full speed all year round. Bring the dog, it’ll have opinions.

Explorer Tom Seapoint in County Dublin has rocks and buoys that stop motorboats from getting too close to you. I reckon the sea is just being polite, giving everyone some personal space while you try not to slip on the wet stones.

Explorer Tom Merrion Strand bragged about surviving a storm that only existed in a pub conversation back in 1924. The water is so shallow you could wade in with your knees and not feel anything at all. Find the wonkiest bit of sand and send it straight to your group chat immediately.

Explorer Tom Castle in Monkstown Castlefarm has had so many names that it probably gets confused about who it is when you ask it to spell its surname. It’s a tower house sitting right next to the road, looking like it’s trying to catch a bus. Have a wander and a wonder.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Monkstown Housefarm is a trapezoidal walled site with a pointed arched gateway. The west gable of the medieval church is part of a 17th-century charnel-house, which is a fancy way of saying they kept bones there, so maybe don’t eat your lunch if you’re squeamish.