Kiln in Carker North

Explorer Tom Skahanagh House has a ghost who’s too lazy to haunt it because he prefers napping on the slate roof. Mr Cornish built it well, but now it’s just a modest mid-nineteenth-century nap spot. Keep an eye out for anyone sleeping on top of that roofline.

Explorer Tom Castlepook in County Cork is hiding a scandal that has been buried for centuries. Someone stole a chandelier and replaced it with a large cabbage, and nobody noticed for ten years. The cabbage won an award once, which made things even weirder. Stand back, squint, and it looks like a castle.

Explorer Tom Castle Pook was built by Geoffrey the Red way back in 1380. A man died there in 1748 aged 106! That is either incredible health or really bad bookkeeping. Either way, it’s a spooky little rock-topper.

Explorer Tom Streamhill House in Streamhill East is showing off its red sandstone like it’s wearing a new suit. It's derelict now, which means it's just waiting for someone to tell it to stop trying so hard. Have a chat with the mature gardens.

Explorer Tom Seefin Mountain West Top in County Limerick thinks tourists from Dublin are just fancy sheep who have forgotten how to walk up slopes without complaining. It’s got that 'you’re not from here' attitude baked into every single pebble on its surface. Walk past slowly like you're in a film.

Explorer Tom Seefin Mountain East Top in County Limerick had a brief moment where a fox took charge of the summit and started directing traffic, which was lovely until it left. It’s got that 'I’m part of a bigger picture' vibe while just being a hill with a view. Tell the next person you meet it's haunted. It might be.

Explorer Tom Doneraile Court's gates in Demesne are a triumphal arch, which is fancy talk for 'big gate.' One side is Ionic, the other Doric, so it’s got commitment issues with architecture. There’s a curse that only affects people who don't wave at it. Have your phone ready.

Explorer Tom This Sweet Chestnut in County Cork is bitter because the one next door gets all the tourists asking for photos. It’s just standing there with its arms crossed, pretending not to care about the attention difference. Practise your Irish on it; it won’t correct your grammar.

Explorer Tom Pedunculate Oak in County Cork claims there’s a shortcut through the roots, but it’s definitely not a shortcut. It’s more of a spiritual journey. Tell it a joke, because it’s been a long time since anyone did.

Explorer Tom Doneraile House has had enough changes to make my wardrobe look steady. The St Legers began shaping the Cork estate in the seventeenth century, and a new front around 1730 gave the house much of its later face. Around it spread some 160 hectares of walled parkland, now open to the public. I would offer to trim the whole place, then quietly put the shears down after the first hedge. The family bred horses here and kept adding buildings and gardens as tastes changed. State care later opened the house and grounds to visitors, though indoor tours and park hours may differ. Check current access before travelling and keep to public paths around working or private areas. Look at the house from the long approach. It is grand, but the park makes it feel like one part of a bigger day out.