Graveyard in Kildellig

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 Aghaboe Abbey in Aghaboe is sick of people asking why the Gothic tracery was removed back in 1773. It’s a Dominican friary built next to an Augustinian priory on top of an old monastery. Pretend it's yours and plan the housewarming party right now.

Explorer Tom Aghaboe Grange is probably rearranging its furniture when nobody’s looking, just to see if you notice the difference. It’s got that Victorian veranda vibe that says 'come in, but mind your manners.' Bring a camera and your most suspicious face.

Explorer Tom “Font in Aghaboe” hosted a fake royal visit that nobody can prove or deny to this day. It’s octagonal, which is fancy talk for “eight sides.” Spot the oldest stone and give it a name.

Explorer Tom Saint Canice's Church in Aghaboe is built from bits of an old abbey it swallowed whole. The bishop who refused to visit it must have been incredibly stubborn or very busy. Tell the kids it's a castle. Close enough.

Explorer Tom Church in Aghaboe in County Laois has been dodging zombies since 1234. It burned down so often it basically knows fire by first name. Stand there long enough and someone will ask if you're lost.

Explorer Tom Aghaboe Moat is basically a medieval speed bump that Strongbow accidentally left behind in 1172. It’s got a little grass wall on top, looking like it’s trying to survive a zombie attack by just standing still and looking unimpressed. Snap one photo, then put the phone away and actually look.

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 Donaghmore Workhouse in County Laois has walls that have held hard lives, and I am leaving my usual grand entrance routine outside the gate. The guided visit leads through a nineteenth-century workhouse and an agricultural museum; it is a place to listen closely, then perhaps argue with anyone who says history is only about kings. The Donaghmore Union workhouse was built in the early 1850s, after the worst years of the Great Famine, to ease overcrowding elsewhere. It was formally ready to receive paupers in 1853, though surviving minute books show people there earlier. The site closed as a workhouse in 1886. Its original building plan separated people by age and sex, with sleeping rooms and a dining hall shaped by a harsh Poor Law system. Those are human details, not decorative ruins. Local guides take visitors through the workhouse and the agricultural collection together. The latter holds tools and household objects donated from the area, giving a later picture of rural work and life. The contrast matters: the machinery tells of skill and survival, while the workhouse rooms speak of poverty and control. I briefly considered claiming a farm implement was an early tea-making machine, then thought better of it; these objects have more worthwhile stories already. The museum is a managed visitor place at Donaghmore, with bookable tours and current arrangements on its own site. Come with questions and leave time for the guide's answers. There is no need to manufacture ghosts here. The surviving rooms, local records and people who keep telling the story are enough to make this stop stay with you long after the road home.

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 Sweet Chestnut in County Laois is hiding a treasure that is definitely just an old biscuit tin buried under its roots. You’ll dig it up and be disappointed, but worth it. Bring a camera and your most suspicious face.

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.