Kiln in Barryscourt

Explorer Tom Farm house in Barryscourt is a four-bay two-storey structure from around 1830 with a gabled half-glazed porch. The coloured glass in the porch adds a bit of sparkle to what’s otherwise a solid rural setup.

Explorer Tom Barrys Court Castle, Tower in Barryscourt, County Cork had Sir Walter Raleigh crashing his party for a bit. That’s right, the poet himself! If you see any ghosts complaining about the vibe, wave them off.

Explorer Tom Barryscourt Castle had a watermill on its stream before anyone thought of building the big tower, which is a fine way to put my grand entrance in its place. The mill dates back to the seventh century. The de Barry family later made this Cork spot their stronghold, raising the tower house in the fifteenth or sixteenth century. It suffered through rebellions, repairs and a 1645 attack; you can still look for cannonball marks on the walls. I would tell you I counted every impact, but the castle deserves a closer eye than my invented tally. Conservation has brought parts of the building back into visitor use. Check current opening and tours before heading toward Carrigtwohill, and stay out of any closed repair areas. Start by the stream. The castle's story began there long before the stone tower showed off.

Explorer Tom Ballintubbrid Villa has a walled garden with bee boles that could be hiding a secret tunnel straight to the local pub. It’s got a bow to the south that looks like it’s winking at you. Trust me, the bees know where the ale is.

Explorer Tom Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Carrigtohill sits right next to a medieval tower, so it’s got some serious competition for attention. Built around 1880, it’s definitely trying its best to look older than it is.

Explorer Tom Coast Redwood in County Cork? That's like bringing a yacht to a rowing regatta. Its New Year's resolution is to not feel so out of place and taller than the clouds. Pretend you're a lost aristocrat, nobody will check your roots.

Explorer Tom Saint Colman's Cathedral in Cobh does something weird when nobody’s looking: it probably rearranges its own pews just to mess with anyone who tries to take a shortcut. It’s right by the harbour, so it looks majestic, but the acoustics are definitely playing tricks on you. Best visited with a curious kid and no timetable.

Explorer Tom Building the Titanic Memorial took roughly forty-seven cups of tea, or maybe fifty, I’m honestly not sure but the builders were definitely thirsty. It stands on the beach looking very serious about its own importance. If it rains, blame me.

Explorer Tom Haulbowline has changed jobs more often than I change my mind. Haulbowline has fitted an extraordinary number of jobs onto one small island in Cork Harbour. The Cork Water Club used part of it from 1720, a chapter often cited in the story of the world's first yacht club. Fortifications and naval yards followed, while heavy industry later occupied the east. A road bridge finally connected the island to the mainland in 1966. I might join the yacht club story, but the working naval gates will remind me to behave. Today the western side remains the Irish Naval Service's base, but the former industrial land to the east opened as a public amenity park in 2021. That is a striking change for ground once given over to steel making. Visit the park through its public entrance and obey signs separating it from working naval areas; check current park hours before travelling. Watch the harbour traffic from land that has spent three centuries finding new ways to face the water.

Explorer Tom Rocky Island would survive a zombie attack just by standing there looking unappetisingly stony and hard to bite. Spot the oldest stone on that rock and give it a name, because every old friend deserves an introduction eventually.

Explorer Tom Lough Mahon sounds like a quiet inland lake, and then the tide comes in to correct me. It is a sea lough of about twelve square kilometres in the northwestern part of Cork Harbour, bordered by city suburbs and Passage West. Little Island is to the north, Great Island to the east. Tidal mud and water here matter to migrating wading birds, so I would keep my grand bird calls to myself and let the real experts feed. Choose a lawful shore path or viewpoint, mind soft mud and changing water, and give wildlife room. Watch the pattern of exposed ground shift with the tide. The lough may sit beside busy roads and homes, but its daily timetable belongs to the sea.

Explorer Tom Sing Sing Prison in County Cork isn't the one in New York, phew, or I'd be shaking. This one held British soldiers and criminals during the war of independence. Sounds like a recipe for trouble. Check your pockets for any hidden coins before you go in!