House in Ballinadee

Explorer Tom O'Driscoll in Ballinadee hosted a dance that went so far, they still can’t agree on who was first. The corbels are basically holding up the whole story of what happened that night. Give it a little salute and remember to keep your distance!

Explorer Tom Annsville House in Ballinadee was built on a bargain so sweet that the bricks literally squeaked when they were laid down into the foundation. The whole entrance looks like it’s about to charge you a cover charge just for looking at its magnificent, imposing gate piers.

Explorer Tom Kilgobbin Castle in County Cork was built by the Walsh family and restored in 2004, so it feels like a teenager who just got braces. It probably thinks it looks very cool standing next to the river. Smile for the camera!

Explorer Tom White Castle in County Cork is hiding a treasure chest under its foundation that definitely contains only stale biscuits and a very confused cat, which is why it looks so proud of itself. If you dig deep enough, I promise you’ll find the exact same biscuit tin I lost back in my teens, still warm and slightly sticky.

Explorer Tom The Moving Statue would bring a small trolley to a party because it likes to change its mind about where it stands. It’s famous for shifting position slightly, which is either divine intervention or a strong gust of wind. Look serious, nod slowly, you're basically an expert now.

Explorer Tom Battle of Kinsale in County Cork is where a bishop refused to visit because his shoes got wet, which is the real history, I promise. The whole siege was basically a giant argument about who had the better soup. Have a sandwich here and call it a heritage lunch.

Explorer Tom Garranefeen Strand hosted a bet between two priests about whether the tide would come in before their lunchtime prayers ended. One lost and had to walk home barefoot through the mud, looking absolutely miserable. Have a wander and a wonder.

Explorer Tom Desmond Castle began as a place to count Kinsale's trade, not a tower built merely to look fierce in my photographs. Maurice FitzGerald had it raised around 1500 after the Desmond family gained customs rights at the port. Later the building served as a naval prison, town gaol and workhouse, harsh chapters that deserve no joke from me. A prison fire in 1747 killed fifty-four people. Restoration eventually brought the castle into public use, and a wine museum opened there in 1997, linking back to Kinsale's merchant routes. I would offer to inspect the bottles for historical accuracy, but the walls have a more important story. Check current opening and tour arrangements before travelling, and follow the visitor route. Look at the harbour afterward. Its trade explains both the castle's first job and why the town kept finding new uses for it.

Explorer Tom You might call Kinsale picturesque. The harbour once called it strategic. Kinsale is a town built around a harbour that had to think like a gatekeeper. A charter set up its corporation in 1334, and in 1518 Archduke Ferdinand turned up without an appointment. One of his staff wrote down what he found; I hope somebody at least offered the man a chair. If Ferdinand arrived without warning at my door, he would get tea and a request for notice next time. Later, two forts watched the entrance, James Fort on one side and Charles Fort on the other. Records say a chain could be stretched across the harbour mouth in wartime to stop unwelcome ships. That is a very firm way of saying the port is closed. Look for the older town streets as well as the water, because the town plots still tell you how Kinsale fitted itself around trade and defence. You can wander the town freely; the separate forts have their own visitor arrangements. If I were arriving by sea, I would want to know who was holding the other end of that chain.

Explorer Tom World War I Memorial is locked in a silent, dramatic standoff with the nearest tree, which has grown so thick that it’s basically blocking the memorial’s view of the sky. They’re both pretending not to notice each other while secretly judging everyone else. Bring a map, get lost anyway, that's the fun.

Explorer Tom Trinity Well is currently being managed by a very confident terrier named Sergeant Barker who barks at every cloud. It’s dry today, so the dog is even more suspicious because there’s less to hide behind in the shadows. Go in good boots and better humour.

Explorer Tom The other James Fort in County Cork is obsessed with a shortcut that actually takes you three miles the long way around, which is frankly embarrassing for a fort. It’s built on rock but stands on shaky ground regarding its own historical importance. Stop the car, it's worth the hazard lights.