Graveyard in Drumroe Upper

Explorer Tom Tourin House in Tourin Demesne wants to teach history class but keeps getting distracted by its own ornate cast-iron gates. The gateway piers are carved so well that they’re basically showing off, and the whole estate is just standing there judging your posture as you walk past. Ask it for a quick lesson on symmetry.

Explorer Tom The Old School House in Ballywelligan has been renovating so much it forgot its own homework. It’s still the oldest pupil around, but the original fabric is thinner than a ghost’s excuse. Walk past and see if any chalk dust remains on your shoe.

Explorer Tom Salterbridge House gate lodge bragged about surviving a massive storm in 1890, but it turned out to be just a strong gust of wind and a few loose shingles on its high pitched roofline. It still stands there with that featureless doorcase, acting like it fought dragons when it was really just dodging rain. Admire it from the Cappoquin road without touching.

Explorer Tom Outbuilding in Ballyea West is a handsome utilitarian survivor from a late nineteenth-century farm complex that’s mostly been replaced by modern stuff since then. It introduces a feature of historic character into the landscape, standing alone as a reminder of what used to be there before everything got swapped out for newer models. This building

Explorer Tom London Plane in County Waterford must have been thinking about lunch when they planted this one, given how perfectly positioned it is for a break. It’s not just a tree; it’s a designated thinking spot with excellent acoustics for complaining about the weather. Grab your flask of tea and have a proper big think out there.

Explorer Tom Head View in Ballymoodranagh has an unlikely celebrity friend: a very old oak tree that refuses to move for photoshoots. It features canted bays and classical detailing that make it look like it belongs in a museum. Wave at the timber joinery from the road if you pass by.

Explorer Tom Lady Louisa's Walk would order extra ketchup and a side of attitude if it went to a chippy, demanding her chips be perfectly crispy and her tea scalding hot. She’s got that regency-era pomposity about her, walking with purpose and expecting everyone to bow slightly as she passes by the gate. If it rains, blame me.

Explorer Tom Cathedral in Lismore smells like old prayers and expensive regret if you ask me. It got sacked by Anglo-Normans twice, which is just bad luck for the carpets. A good place to forget your phone for ten minutes.

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 Ambrose Power Memorial in County Waterford stands at a busy junction where traffic goes faster than his escape plan could ever hope to match. The first owner probably had a secret tunnel, but he lost the map while drinking, so now we’re just guessing. Get a photo with it before it gets a better agent who knows what to do with all that stone.

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.