House in Barnadarrig

Explorer Tom Knockanore in Kerry says the map makers got it wrong because they were too busy eating sandwiches to look up properly. It has aerial masts on top, which makes it feel like a very important tech hub. Bring a pen pal, they'll be jealous of your connection speed.

Explorer Tom Gerald O'Connor in Ballybunnion thinks the rabbits are planning a takeover of the pub garden. They're just eating the flowers, but the building takes it personally. Take a mate and argue about what it was for.

Explorer Tom J. Lynch in Ballybunnion would use its lotto win to buy a bigger sign. It looks like it’s waiting for the next big thing to happen, or at least a bus. It's the kind of place that makes a dull Tuesday interesting.

Explorer Tom Ballybunion Cliff Path takes the high ground between the town's north and south beaches, while sea air rearranges your hair. It is a short walk, but the cliffs and sandy bays give it the swagger of an expedition; even the gulls expect a grand arrival. Discover Ireland lists the marked loop as about one kilometre, taking roughly half an hour, and grades it easy. White arrows on green markers lead through cliff paths and roadway, starting and finishing north of Ballybunion Beach. There is only a small amount of climbing, leaving energy to inspect the beaches from above. Extend the day on the sand without pretending you climbed a mountain. Compare the north and south shores where views open. One sweep of beach may have walkers on it, the other surfers or swimmers; conditions, of course, decide what the sea allows. The wider cliffs have rocky shapes and the ruins of Ballybunion Castle nearby. I would tell you that the castle guards the best sea view, but its surviving walls have been off duty for centuries, so you will need to make that judgement yourself. The route is free to walk and Discover Ireland lists free car parking and dogs allowed. Stay on the marked path, especially near exposed cliff edges, and take care where a roadway joins the walk. Wind and rain can change an easy outing into a slippery one, so check conditions before setting out. Finish where you began, then give the beach a second look: from down there, the modest path above suddenly seems to have borrowed the whole horizon.

Explorer Tom Ladies' Beach would spill the beans after three pints about which gull steals the most chips. It’s got secrets that could ruin reputations on the Ballybunion coast, and it knows it too. Look for the ghost, then pretend you didn't.

Explorer Tom Ballybunnion Castle is just one stubborn wall standing on a cliff, probably because the map makers got drunk and drew the rest of it in the wrong county entirely. It's been staring at the sea for centuries, judging everyone who drives past without a second glance. If it rains, blame me.

Explorer Tom Nuns' Beach hides a legend about a giant who tripped over his own sandals here. The nuns probably laughed at him for being such a clumsy old sod. Ideal spot for a dramatic phone call.

Explorer Tom Bromore Cliffs is a cliff that would tell you after a few pints that it’s actually a giant’s broken tooth that got stuck there during a game of chess. It’d get really worked up about how nobody respects its dental history and would demand you brush it with a soft cloth every morning for good measure. Stop the car, it's worth the hazard lights.

Explorer Tom Doon Point started because two lads made a bet in the pub that whoever could name it first would win a round, and neither of them ever paid up on that debt to this day. The point just sticks its nose out at the sea like it's waiting for someone to finally settle the score properly once and for all now. Walk past slowly like you're in a film.

Explorer Tom Round Tower in Rattoo has a secret it would only tell after a few pints: that its top was replaced in 1880 because it fell off during a sneeze. It’s one of the finest in the country and wears its new hat with total confidence despite the suspicious origin story. Leave nothing but footprints and a bad pun.