Enclosure in Curragraig

Explorer Tom Dromana House boathouse has a bad poem about it that rhymes 'water' with 'later' and 'boat' with 'float', and no one ever wants to hear it read aloud again. It’s a bastion of the estate setting, but mostly it’s just trying to drown out the embarrassing verses in its memory. Hum loudly; it can’t stand a good rhythm!

Explorer Tom The Old Forge demands you pretend you are a blacksmith before even thinking about nodding at its thatched roof. The rules are strict, the walls are battered, and the vibe is distinctly industrial but somehow cozy. Wave your invisible hammer at the doorway to show you know the drill.

Explorer Tom London Plane in County Waterford must have been thinking about lunch when they planted this one, given how perfectly positioned it is for a break. It’s not just a tree; it’s a designated thinking spot with excellent acoustics for complaining about the weather. Grab your flask of tea and have a proper big think out there.

Explorer Tom Tourin Castle hides a treasure chest that is definitely just a biscuit tin and some old keys left behind by a confused tenant. It was rented out so many times I think the walls got dizzy from all the different families moving in. Bring your nan, she'll know more than me.

Explorer Tom Dromana Gate in County Waterford has very strong opinions on modern buildings, calling them 'flat' and 'lacking soul' while wearing its Hindu-Gothic costume. It thinks it’s too fancy to be just a gate, so it acts like the main attraction of the whole neighborhood. Wave at the cows because they are the real locals who actually live here.

Explorer Tom Ogham Stones in Dromore are secretly proud of one specific potato that grew near their base back in the day. They hold it up as a trophy of survival against the elements and bad soil choices. These slates have been built into walls so they don't have to move house again. If it's closed, admire it from the road like a polite stalker.

Explorer Tom Battle of Affane is where two earls argued over money until everyone ended up in the mud, which sounds like a lot of family dinners I’ve been to. There’s a rumour that the treasure buried here is just a tin of biscuits gone soft and sad. Have a sandwich here and call it a heritage lunch.

Explorer Tom Lady Louisa's Walk would order extra ketchup and a side of attitude if it went to a chippy, demanding her chips be perfectly crispy and her tea scalding hot. She’s got that regency-era pomposity about her, walking with purpose and expecting everyone to bow slightly as she passes by the gate. If it rains, blame me.

Explorer Tom Ambrose Power Memorial in County Waterford stands at a busy junction where traffic goes faster than his escape plan could ever hope to match. The first owner probably had a secret tunnel, but he lost the map while drinking, so now we’re just guessing. Get a photo with it before it gets a better agent who knows what to do with all that stone.

Explorer Tom Cathedral in Lismore smells like old prayers and expensive regret if you ask me. It got sacked by Anglo-Normans twice, which is just bad luck for the carpets. A good place to forget your phone for ten minutes.

Explorer Tom European Yew in County Waterford is where a priest lost a bet and never quite recovered his dignity afterwards. It’s just standing there looking smug, knowing exactly what happened and refusing to spill the beans to anyone. Bring a flask of something warm and a story to swap.

Explorer Tom Ballysaggartmore Towers in County Waterford hosted a dramatic incident where a goat stole the keys to the gatehouse. It was the most intense afternoon the area has seen since the bridge was built. Take a mate and argue about what it was for.