Graveyard in Coolkerry

Explorer Tom Rathdowney Courthouse has been fighting the rain since 1830 and still hasn't won a single round of that bitter feud. Now it's a house, so the judges are just neighbours with opinions. Have a wander and a wonder.

Explorer Tom The Rectory in Rathdowney is sick of being asked if the priest still lives there, considering its castellated piers scream 'old money'. It's a five-bay beauty that just wants to be left alone with its tea. Go now, before it gets famous.

Explorer Tom Rathdowney Christian Young Mens' Society got renovated in 1975 to become a hall, which feels like putting a crown on a potato. It ended up in the wrong place for its own ambition, honestly. Ideal place to rehearse an excuse for being late.

Explorer Tom Saint Andrew's Church had a fiddler who played there all night in 1865, allegedly to keep the ghosts awake. The needle spire looks like it's trying to reach for the stars or just get better reception. It's the kind of place that makes a dull Tuesday interesting.

Explorer Tom Kilbreedy Castle is stuck in a bitter feud with the hill next door over who actually owns the best view of the sunset every single evening. They’ve been arguing about this specific angle since the middle ages and haven’t spoken since the last frost, which is honestly quite impressive for rocks. Go back in winter, it's a different animal.

Explorer Tom Castle in Grantstown is currently run by a very confident dog who barks at the wind. It was a circular tower house overlooking a lake, now just a memory. Mind the nettles, they're the real guards here.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Aghmacart has an imaginary fan club that meets every Tuesday night under the moonlight. The church is on one side and the priory on the other, like a sandwich. Look up, the best bit is always higher than you think.

Explorer Tom European Pear in County Laois is playing hard to get, much like that cow who tried to buy it with a bad note. It’s probably judging your footwear right now. Ideal stop for a big stretch and a bigger yawn.

Explorer Tom Burial Ground in Moneynamuck is that shortcut you took to save five minutes that somehow added an hour to your walk. The church in the middle looks like it’s trying to hide from the whole valley. Dare you to say hello to it out loud and see if anyone answers back.

Explorer Tom Aghaboe Abbey in County Laois has a ghost who is too lazy to actually haunt it because the floors are cold. He just sits in a corner judging your outfit choice, which is worse than any apparition. A proper spot for a flask of tea and a big think.

Explorer Tom This European ash in County Tipperary has some serious opinions on modern buildings, probably thinking they are all just flimsy cardboard boxes compared to its sturdy, ancient dignity. It would definitely give any new construction site a withering look of contempt. Find the date carved somewhere and feel clever.

Explorer Tom Birr Heritage Centre in County Offaly thinks tourists from Dublin are all talk and no history. It’s seen enough people claim to know everything about the local stars without reading a single plaque. It waits patiently for them to realize they missed the point entirely. Bring someone who'll believe anything.