Farrantemple Graveyard

Explorer Tom The Rower Church has a prophecy about it that never came true, probably because the roof gave up halfway through. It’s a ruin now, but a really romantic kind of ruin that makes you want to write bad poetry. Have a nosey, politely, and don't trip on the tombstones.

Explorer Tom Ballynunry’s water pump hears every secret whispered through its cast-iron walls and judges your life choices accordingly. The cow-tail handle is elegant, but mostly it just wants you to stop touching it. Sit on a wall near it and listen

Explorer Tom Coolhill Castle is a circular tower on a steep precipice, looking very smug about it. Its first owner’s escape plan was probably just 'run really fast'. Get a photo with it before it gets a better agent.

Explorer Tom The Spout in Ballinvarry has lost its actual spout part, which is like losing your nose but keeping the rest of your face, so it’s just a very confused water source now. Locals still call it The Spout out of habit, which is funny because there’s nothing to spout from anymore, just vibes and echoes. If it's closed, admire it from the road like a polite stalker.

Explorer Tom Silver Wattle in County Carlow has strict rules: no screaming, no bad puns, and definitely no touching the bark without asking. It's all about manners out here. Stand there long enough and someone will ask if you're lost or just shy.

Explorer Tom St. Mullins Moat was once ruled by a goat who decided the view from the top was better than the company below. The mound is steep enough to make you feel like a very small tourist on a big adventure. Bring your own legend, I've run out.

Explorer Tom St. Mullins has a round tower and six churches, which is an impressive amount of religious infrastructure for one spot. Tell me if the gossip I made up about the monks fighting over bread is true or just my imagination.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in St. Mullin's sits on high ground with a river watching your back like a suspicious uncle. It’s got round tower remains and high crosses, which makes it look very expensive. Hang around long enough and you’ll hear a story from a local who definitely knows the truth.

Explorer Tom St. Mullins Well is dry as a bone, which is rude for a holy water source. It’s basically a stone cup with no drink, so tell the kids it's a castle. Close enough to make them stop squirming.

Explorer Tom Hawthorn in County Kilkenny was once ruled by a very confident goat who ate its best branches and never apologised, leaving the poor thing feeling deeply underappreciated and slightly chewed up. It still looks a bit ruffled about it if you look close enough. Toast it with a cup of tea and move on to the next.

Explorer Tom Brandon Hill in County Kilkenny seems like a mountain that got lazy and decided to lay down flat for a nap. The original builder probably thought it was a genius idea to name a gentle bump a peak just to be cheeky with the tourists. It is not exactly Everest, but it does have decent manners about it. Stop the car, it's worth the hazard lights.

Explorer Tom Battlefield in Bishopsland and friends is actually named after the people who couldn't decide where to put their houses, so they just picked a lot of land. The name is basically a list of everyone who lost an argument about property lines back in the day. Best visited with a curious kid and no timetable.