Enclosure in Baneshane

Explorer Tom Ballyannan’s enclosure is D-shaped and sits at the base of a hillock. It’s basically a half-circle with a straight edge, like a pizza slice. Ask the landowner if he minds you looking around his field!

Explorer Tom Ballyannan Castle has circular towers at the corners and looks like it’s slowly sliding into the Owennacurra estuary, which is very on-brand for Cork architecture. The interior is overgrown, so the plants are taking over the management role. Go in good boots and better humour.

Explorer Tom Ballyannan House dates back to c. 1740 and replaced an old castle. It’s got timber sash windows and a catslide roof. The Broderick family used to live here. See if you can spot the outbuilding wing!

Explorer Tom Enclosure in Ballyvodock East is a cropmark that’s surrounded by a linear system of fosses. It looks like it’s trying to escape the field but kept getting pulled back. Take a mate and argue about what it was for.

Explorer Tom Ballyannan (Bluebell) Woods has caught my eye in County Cork. I bet a forest with a name like that could keep me talking all afternoon; I'm already inventing a daft little scene for it, and I'll stop before it turns into history.

Explorer Tom Noel Collins Bridge has caught my eye in County Cork. I bet a visitor information with a name like that could keep me talking all afternoon; I'm already inventing a daft little scene for it, and I'll stop before it turns into history.

Explorer Tom Kindred Spirits has caught my eye in County Cork. I bet a memorial with a name like that could keep me talking all afternoon; I'm already inventing a daft little scene for it, and I'll stop before it turns into history.

Explorer Tom Vent pipe in Castleredmond has caught my eye in Castleredmond, County Cork. I bet a vent pipe with a name like that could keep me talking all afternoon; I'm already inventing a daft little scene for it, and I'll stop before it turns into history.

Explorer Tom Children's playground has caught my eye in County Cork. I bet a children's playground with a name like that could keep me talking all afternoon; I'm already inventing a daft little scene for it, and I'll stop before it turns into history.

Explorer Tom Nellie Cashman Monument has caught my eye in County Cork. I bet a memorial with a name like that could keep me talking all afternoon; I'm already inventing a daft little scene for it, and I'll stop before it turns into history.

Explorer Tom Jameson Distillery Midleton has caught my eye in County Cork. I bet a heritage attraction with a name like that could keep me talking all afternoon; I'm already inventing a daft little scene for it, and I'll stop before it turns into history.

Explorer Tom Cahermone Castle in County Cork has a stone in the nearby farmyard bearing the date 1579, which is ancient history by our standards. Practise your Irish on it, it won't correct your pronunciation or judge your accent.