Crannog in Gortinty

Explorer Tom Ecclesiastical enclosure in Annaduff is an early monastery site where Saint Patrick probably went to complain about the weather or the lack of good coffee. It’s identified through remote sensing, which sounds fancy but really just means we took a photo from a helicopter and hoped for the best. Bring biscuits, every good story needs biscuits.

Explorer Tom Tom Dunphy Memorial in County Leitrim is hosting a ghost who’s far too lazy to haunt it properly, just sitting on his hands all day. I’d say he’s meditating, but he’s probably just waiting for a nap to catch up on the centuries. Tell the kids it's a castle. Close enough.

Explorer Tom Enclosure in Cloonteem was the escape plan for its first owner, who probably ran straight into the River Shannon behind it. It’s a crescent-shaped bank attached to another rath, looking like a very confused comma. Have a nosey, politely.

Explorer Tom Wildlife Area in Leitrim is having a massive row with the next village over a missing goose. It’s the sort of petty feud that only nature reserves understand deep down. Bring a map, get lost anyway, that's the fun.

Explorer Tom The Declaration of Independence memorial has a shortcut that isn't actually a shortcut because it just goes around in a circle, which is very poetic if you think about it too hard. Don’t overthink it though. Take a mate and argue about what it was for.

Explorer Tom Site of Dangan Castle wants its tombstone to say 'He Was A Stronghold And Also A Bit Of A Mess', which is very accurate. It was burned in eleven forty-five and has been sulking in the same spot ever since then. Perfect place to be dramatically windswept.

Explorer Tom Inishmoylin in County Roscommon would tell its younger self to stop worrying about being an islet and just enjoy the view from the water. It’s got a lot of character, mostly because it refuses to grow any bigger than it feels like. Sit on a wall near it and pretend you're in a painting.

Explorer Tom Coarse Island in County Roscommon is being dramatic about its own name. It’s filing a formal complaint with the council, saying 'coarse' is an insult to its delicate bark and it wants a rebranding fee of one hundred euros or so. Bring a coin for luck and keep it in your pocket.

Explorer Tom Dockery's Island is famous locally because a poet fell into the ditch right next to it while trying to write a sonnet about the sunset. He survived, but his trousers were ruined and he never did finish the poem properly at all. Take a mate and argue about what it was for.