Church in Corker

Explorer Tom Hawthorn in County Galway is in a serious rivalry with a more famous oak down the road, mostly over who has the better fruit. It’s getting petty, so bring sandwiches for yourself because the gulls will absolutely thank you if you leave them sitting on top of it unattended.

Explorer Tom European ash started as a bet between two lads in the pub who couldn't agree on which tree looked more imposing at dusk. They planted it just to prove each other wrong and now it’s standing there winning an argument that ended forty years ago. It's the kind of place that makes a dull Tuesday interesting.

Explorer Tom Tullira Castle gates are having a full-blown feud with the rain because they’re too fancy for the weather’s rough treatment. The cast-iron work is so decorative that it probably complains about every single drop that hits its shiny surface. It’s the kind of entrance that makes you feel like you need to wear a top hat just to walk past it.

Explorer Tom Kiltartan Gregory Museum was built by Francis Persse after a love story went badly wrong next door, apparently. It’s all red brick and terracotta tiles, looking like an Arts and Crafts experiment that accidentally became a museum. Take a break from the history books for a sec.

Explorer Tom Thoor Ballylee in County Galway was built on a bargain where someone promised Yeats eternal inspiration if he would just live there, which turned out to be a very good deal all round. It still smells faintly of poetry and old ink, which is either romantic or just damp, depending on your mood. Best visited with a curious kid and no timetable.

Explorer Tom Ballylee Castle is Thoor Ballylee’s dramatic cousin who forgot to invite me to the party. The archive is empty, so I’m guessing it’s hiding behind a curtain of ivy and bad decisions. Have a sandwich here and call it a heritage lunch.

Explorer Tom Coole Park claims Queen Victoria visited once and hid in a bush to avoid being recognised. Nobody has found the bush, but everyone swears she was there eating a pie. Best seen with a hangover and a sausage roll.

Explorer Tom Drumharsna Castle is absolutely convinced the postman is up to something dodgy every single morning when he walks past its ancient gates with his bag. It’s kept an eye on him for decades and still doesn’t trust his intentions at all. Ideal stop for a big stretch and a bigger yawn.

Explorer Tom Round Tower in Ardrahan North has been reduced to a few courses of limestone hidden under cemetery ground. Nobody knows where the top went, so I’m guessing it got promoted to heaven. Bring a pen pal, they’ll be jealous of its mystery.

Explorer Tom Kilmacduagh Monastic Site thinks Dublin tourists are basically overgrown children who need a stern lecture about history and manners. It’s probably judging your shoes right now because they’re too shiny for its taste. It's free, it's odd, what more do you want?

Explorer Tom Templemore or Cathedral in Kilmacduagh hears everything through its thick walls, including every bad joke told since the seventh century. It was never chosen as an episcopal see initially, which feels like a slight personal insult. Stand back, squint, and it looks like a castle.

Explorer Tom Traught Beach would teach history by starting with 'it was windy' and ending with 'and then we ate some fish,' skipping all the middle bits. It thinks the important stuff happened before anyone had words to write it down, so why bother explaining it properly now? A proper spot for a flask of tea and a big think.