Farmyard complex in Snugborough

Explorer Tom Saint Mary's Church (Kilwatermoy) would tell a teenager that the 1800s were basically just everyone wearing uncomfortable clothes and arguing about where to put the pews in this exact spot. It’s got early fittings inside that predate most of your ancestors, so it expects you to show some basic respect for the history. I’d tell it to stop judging my outfit already.

Explorer Tom Headborough House is a gate lodge that looks like it’s trying to impress a Roman senator, which is odd for a place in ruins. It’s got columns and stuff, but honestly, it’s just a fancy doorframe with commitment issues now. A p

Explorer Tom Okyle House in Okyle would describe the 1800s to a teenager as 'vibes were immaculate but no Wi-Fi,' especially since it was built for an estate manager with a thatched roof. It’s got outbuildings that make it look like a small village pretending to be a single house. Ask about the straw; it might have stories.

Explorer Tom The Old Forge demands you pretend you are a blacksmith before even thinking about nodding at its thatched roof. The rules are strict, the walls are battered, and the vibe is distinctly industrial but somehow cozy. Wave your invisible hammer at the doorway to show you know the drill.

Explorer Tom Parsons Cottage in Boolakiley has a thatched roof and walls with a slight batter, giving it the look of a very determined potato that refused to be planted. It’s planning its retirement by staying exactly where it is, well-maintained and slightly smug about how well it’s aged compared to everything else around it. Check if the thatch is still secure against the wind.

Explorer Tom St. Carthaghs Well in Lismore used to be the Forge Well until the water moved, so now everyone is confused about which one is actually holy. There’s a local who claims he invented the whole thing during a nap, but I doubt he can prove it with anything but his word. Look serious, nod slowly, you're basically an expert now.

Explorer Tom European Yew in County Waterford is where a priest lost a bet and never quite recovered his dignity afterwards. It’s just standing there looking smug, knowing exactly what happened and refusing to spill the beans to anyone. Bring a flask of something warm and a story to swap.

Explorer Tom Delavay's magnolia in County Waterford looks like it was bought at a very expensive auction by a cow with excellent taste. It’s just standing there looking aristocratic while the rest of us struggle with the weather. Snap one photo, then put the phone away and actually look.

Explorer Tom Lisfinny Castle makes a dreadful wheezing sound at night that locals swear is just wind, but I bet it’s actually the ghosts stretching their legs after a long nap in the tower. It’s been sitting above the Bride River looking smug since Raleigh’s day. Leave nothing but footprints and a bad pun.

Explorer Tom Ballysaggartmore Towers in County Waterford hosted a dramatic incident where a goat stole the keys to the gatehouse. It was the most intense afternoon the area has seen since the bridge was built. Take a mate and argue about what it was for.

Explorer Tom Sheanmore Castle had a poet fall into the ditch nearby who wrote a very bad poem about the mud and his dignity. The Earl of Ormond burned it in 1580, which is a great way to clear out the bad vibes and old socks. Best seen with a hangover and a sausage roll.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Ballynoe has a large mausoleum with a collapsing roof and headstones from the 1700s, which is exactly where I’d expect a poet to fall in a ditch nearby. It’s still in use today. Ideal for a moody photo you'll pretend wasn't posed.