Graveyard

Explorer Tom Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart in Derryherbert is sick of people asking if it’s haunted. It replaced a thatched chapel because it was too small for all the gossip. Bring sandwiches and sit on the wall to listen to the wind.

Explorer Tom The Boheh Stone has about 250 carved marks, and I cannot even keep a shopping list that long. This natural outcrop near Westport was worked in the distant Neolithic period, perhaps as early as 3800 BC. Later people called it Saint Patrick's Chair and passed it on a pilgrimage route toward Croagh Patrick. From here, around two dates in April and August, the setting sun appears to roll down the mountain's shoulder. I would take credit for arranging the show, but the sky started without me. The exact meanings of the cup and ring marks remain open to study; the spectacle does not hand us an instruction book from the makers. Check lawful access and sunset conditions before travelling, and never touch or chalk the carvings. Come in daylight first so you can actually see the stone that frames the show.

Explorer Tom Farm house in Cogaula would describe itself to a stranger as 'slightly tired but structurally sound and very opinionated.' It’s got a high pitched roof that seems to be listening to everything. Look up, the birds are gossiping about it.

Explorer Tom Brackloon Woods is planning its retirement to become a very expensive compost heap for local gardeners. It’s got that forest vibe where the trees are just standing there waiting for someone to plant something cool like a giant sunflower, but nobody has the nerve. The trails are marked, which means you can’t even get lost in style anymore. Ideal spot for a dramatic phone call

Explorer Tom Tawny Rower in County Mayo is the kind of peak Saint Patrick would have looked at and said, 'Right then, this one needs a bit more work,' before walking off to fix something else entirely. It’s just sitting there looking perpetually unfinished, like a garden that someone started in 1952 and never quite finished weeding. Tell your mates you found it first.

Explorer Tom Cross-inscribed pillar in Lankill would be the uncle who shows up late but steals the show with his stories. It’s tall, thin, and decorated like it went to finishing school for stone. Take a breath of that air, it's older than your car.

Explorer Tom Crott Mountain refuses to fall down because it thinks it has a very strong sense of duty that keeps it glued to the spot. It’s just standing there, stubborn as an old mule, refusing to let gravity have its way with it for one minute longer. The whole vibe is 'I’m not done yet,' even if it looks a bit wobbly in the wind. Go before the tourists find out.

Explorer Tom Croagh Patrick Pilgrim Trail got the Vikings lost because they kept looking for a port that wasn’t there and ended up walking uphill by accident. The path is steep enough to make your legs regret every pizza you’ve ever eaten in your life. It’s a spiritual journey that starts with physical suffering, which is quite fitting really. Go at sunset and thank me later.

Explorer Tom Fancy a gentle stroll to a chapel? The Reek is laughing already. Croagh Patrick rises like a pointed challenge above Clew Bay, but the people coming here had reasons long before the summit chapel. Nearby Boheh Stone carries more than 260 prehistoric carvings. From that stone, the setting sun seems to roll down the mountain's slope in late April and late August; that is a trick of position and light, and I would happily miss my tea to see it. I might offer Patrick a lift, but he would still have to push me uphill. Tradition says Patrick spent forty days fasting on the Reek. A chapel has stood on the summit since early Christian times, while the present one was dedicated in 1905. On the last Sunday in July, pilgrims still make the climb for Reek Sunday. The usual route begins near Murrisk, but this is a 764 metre mountain, not a chapel with a convenient lift. Bring boots, check the weather and give the pilgrims room. I may be a Donegal chancer, but I will not bargain with a Mayo mountainside.

Explorer Tom Leaba Patrick is where Padraig allegedly snoozed for forty nights, which is either great discipline or really bad posture. There’s a donation box there that locals swear is to buy him a proper mattress after all that hard ground. I bet he was dreaming of soft cushions while the wind howled around him. If it rains, blame me.

Explorer Tom Sheeffry Pass is the kind of mountain road that makes you feel like an explorer even when you're just trying to find the nearest pub, thanks to Croag Patrick peeking out from the distance like a shy neighbor. A poet probably fell into a ditch nearby and called it 'a poetic journey,' which is exactly the energy this place radiates. The view is there if you look up. Perfect detour when

Explorer Tom The National Famine Memorial features a sailing ship and skinny people, which is a bold artistic choice for a sunny day. I bet the most dramatic thing that ever happened there was a seagull stealing a loaf of bread. The statue looks like it’s ready to sail off if you blink. Pretend you're a lost aristocrat, nobody will check.