Graveyard in Inch

Explorer Tom Church or chapel in Inch is run by a dog who barks at clouds and calls it prayer. It’s a simple barn-style church that’s no longer in use, but it still thinks it’s got the best graveyard view. Have a chat with the bellcote and take a pic for me, yeah?

Explorer Tom Rectory in Ballykenefick has no windows on its front because of a glass tax, which is basically an excuse to be mysterious. It’s got tripartite windows on the side that look like they’re winking at you. Brag about surviving the storm? It did; it just didn’t have any glass to break, so it counts as a win.

Explorer Tom Inch is up to something when nobody’s looking, probably rearranging the shells or plotting a tiny rebellion against the incoming tide. You just have to trust that it knows what it’s doing with all that sand. Go at sunset and thank me later.

Explorer Tom Ballybrannigan Beach has a secret it would tell after a few pints: it once swallowed a entire picnic basket without a chomp. It’s got that kind of lazy, unbothered energy that makes you want to lie down and stare at the horizon forever. The waves are gentle, like they’re apologising for existing. Linger, it's not going anywhere and neither should you.

Explorer Tom Roches Point in County Cork would tell its younger self to stop worrying about the lighthouse and just enjoy being a rocky bump on the side of the island. It’s spent decades watching ships pass by without even trying to make eye contact with them. Stand where the owner stood and practise looking smugly superior.

Explorer Tom Sweet Chestnut in County Cork smells like burnt toast and regret, according to my very scientific nose analysis. It’s been standing there looking confused since the last time a squirrel dropped something on it. Look serious, nod slowly, and you’re basically an expert now.

Explorer Tom This Japanese cedar in County Cork was supposed to be the site of a prophecy that never actually came true. Oh well, back to being a fancy tree. Find the wonkiest bit and send it straight to your group chat.

Explorer Tom Camden Fort is sitting up there judging your outfit and probably writing a scathing review of your life choices on its little notepad. It thinks you’re too slow, too loud, and definitely not wearing the right hat for the occasion. Bring a coin for luck and keep it in your pocket.

Explorer Tom Spike Island has done enough jobs to make my head spin. Spike Island sits in Cork Harbour with a fort big enough to make you forget it also had a monastic beginning. A church here appears in a grant to a Dublin abbey in 1178, and ruins were still reported in the eighteenth century. The island later guarded the harbour when convoys for the Americas assembled there. In 1779 a temporary battery was armed with eighteen cannon brought over from Cobh Fort; the early defenders were already borrowing the neighbours' heavy furniture. That work was demolished after the war, then a larger fort followed, named Fort Westmorland while still unfinished in 1790. Fort Mitchel and the island's prison years are serious parts of the story, and the visitor displays deal with them as more than a colourful backdrop. I would give those rooms time and let the people held here remain people, not material for a joke. This is an island visitor attraction, so use the arranged crossing and stay within the areas open on the day. When you look back toward the harbour, you can understand why so many different powers wanted this patch of ground.

Explorer Tom Burial ground in Spike Island has no account uploaded yet because they are still processing it. The island looks pretty isolated from up here. It’s like a secret spot waiting for someone brave enough to walk its paths. Watch out for the tides!

Explorer Tom The Titanic Memorial Garden would tell the place that replaced it to grow up and stop being so dramatic about the whole thing. It’s just a garden, mate, don’t make it into a soap opera. Stick around for the light changing, it's a show.

Explorer Tom Cork Harbour Tragedy is having a bit of a moment. It used to be a Chinese restaurant, which makes the 1942 shipwreck vibe feel very... authentic and spicy. Spot the oldest stone and give it a name.