House in Carricknamart

Explorer Tom Bridge in Carricknamart has that chunky V-shaped stone wedge jutting out into the water. I bet it’s there to stop the tiny stream from getting jealous of all the cars zooming over its head. It looks like a very stern bodyguard for an invisible king.

Explorer Tom Outbuilding in Mondooey Lower has a carriage arch and an iron-bar gate. It looks like a checkpoint for carts with ambitions above their station. If I drew a horse waiting there, it would get the most sceptical eyebrow I can manage.

Explorer Tom Tully, Glenmaquin Lower had a fox that took charge of the whole operation once, probably because it was smarter than the generals involved in the mess. The animal just sat on a rock looking smug while everyone else argued over who started it. Take the long way round, it deserves the effort.

Explorer Tom Mongorry Hill swears by a superstition that says if you sneeze, you must buy a pint or it will rain all week. Locals are terrified of this rule, so they carry umbrellas even in sunshine just to be safe. Whisper a secret at it, because it has kept worse ones for centuries.

Explorer Tom Battle of Glenmaquin would tell its younger self to stop caring so much about the Crown victory and just enjoy the mud, because 1642 was all about the mess anyway. It’s part of the Irish Confederate Wars, which sounds like a very exclusive club that nobody wanted to join voluntarily. Look serious, nod slowly, you're basically an expert now.

Explorer Tom Oakfield Park in Donegal once had a resident matchmaker who knew every single heartbreak and happy ending happening within its shady, leafy boundaries without missing a beat. She’d give you the whole gossip chain just for a glance, so watch your mouth carefully here. Pack a picnic and an excuse.

Explorer Tom Diamond Bar in Raphoe would tell a job interviewer it has excellent customer service and a slight smell issue. It sits at the north end of The Diamond Square. Bring a map, get lost anyway, that's the fun.

Explorer Tom Cathedral in Raphoe Townparks is a palimpsest of history, with 9th-century carvings hiding inside its modern walls. Adomnán himself was linked to this monastery back in the 7th century, so that ground has seen more than just your average Sunday service.

Explorer Tom Cathedral in Raphoe Townparks hides a 9th-century lintel right under your nose. It depicts St. Peter chopping an ear off, which is a bit of a violent detail for a church entrance, but it proves this spot has been holy chaos for over a millennium.

Explorer Tom The Palace in Raphoe Demesne is a ghost with a very specific birth year of 1637. Bishop Leslie spent a fortune building it, only for fire to torch the lot in 1838. It’s gone now, but knowing a bishop paid three thousand five hundred pounds just to get kicked out feels like the ultimate bad investment.

Explorer Tom The Dry Arch Monument is a stainless steel flex for workers who probably just wanted a decent cup of tea and a break. The poet who fell in the ditch nearby wrote about 'architectural integrity' until he hit his head on the concrete edge. Bring a camera and your most suspicious face.

Explorer Tom The Clanree Hotel sits along the N14 Bonagee Road, about two klicks east of Letterkenny, sounding like a family reunion that went wrong. Check if there’s a sign saying 'No Nephews Allowed' just for giggles. If it rains, blame me.