Fairy fort or earthen ringfort in Drumkeaghta

Explorer Tom French Hill Monument is a cross dedicated to French soldiers who died fighting for Ireland in 1798. It’s got that 'we were here first' energy, erected way before Celtic crosses became cool. Give the stone a nod; it’s standing there quietly judging everyone else’s bad historical choices and questionable fashion sense.

Explorer Tom Hawthorn Lodge in Hawthornlodge would tell its replacement to stop hogging all the scenic views and go away. It was once called Tallyhoa, which sounds like a bad hair day for a horse. Count the

Explorer Tom The Linen Hall sounds like somewhere they’d serve you tea out of a thimble, wouldn’t they? Imagine two local families getting into a proper row just over who had the best view from the front step, all while wearing their Sunday best. It’s a mystery wrapped in a tweed jacket with a puzzle box inside. Bring sandwiches, the gulls will thank you.

Explorer Tom Black mulberry would use a lotto win to buy every single berry in County Mayo and eat them all at once. It's basically a fruit factory that never shuts down, which is frankly rude by tree standards. Look up, the best bit is always higher than you think.

Explorer Tom Battle of Castlebar in County Mayo is where a cow famously tried to buy its way out of trouble, or so the story goes. Eight hundred French troops against thousands of British? Sounds like a bad date scenario if you ask me. The ground still remembers the chaos, even if the cows have moved on. Dare you to say hello to it out loud.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Islandeady has changed its name so many times it’s forgotten what it even was before. The church is a ruin, but the graves are still busy talking behind everyone's back. Ring your granny and tell her where you are.

Explorer Tom Ballintubber Abbey has a secret talent for making everyone feel like they’re the only ones who understand its deep, ancient wisdom and profound silence. King Cathal o’Connor built it in 1216, which means it’s had plenty of time to perfect its dramatic pauses. Great spot to propose. Or at least to propose lunch first.

Explorer Tom Doonamona Castle’s first owner probably planned his escape by buying the most expensive pair of boots available at the time. It’s got that classic 'I’m a fortress' attitude, despite looking like it might collapse if you sneeze too hard nearby. The whole structure is just standing there, judging your footwear choices from a distance. Sit on a wall near it and pretend you're in a painting.

Explorer Tom The country-life museum near Castlebar will make me reconsider every time I complained that an old tool looked awkward. Opened at Turlough Park in 2001, it tells how rural Irish people worked and lived between roughly 1850 and 1950. Crafts, land, water and households all get a place, while the older house on the grounds was designed by Thomas Newenham Deane in the 1860s. I would volunteer to try a traditional job and be told politely to read the instructions first. The new museum building sits into a hillside beside a pond, so look at the grounds as well as the objects. Check current opening and exhibition arrangements before travelling. Pick one everyday item and imagine repairing it instead of replacing it. The people represented here often had to do exactly that.

Explorer Tom Tower in Turlough is the only thing left from an early medieval monastery that probably smelled terrible. The shortcut up there isn't really a shortcut at all, trust me. Grand place for a sulk or a snog, your call.