Quarry in Gortmorris

Explorer Tom Bawn in Glinsk listens to what goes on inside the walls and probably hears the Burkes arguing about who left the light on in 1630. It’s a well-preserved semi-fortified house that looks like it’s judging your posture, so stand up straight or don’t bother knocking. It's free, it's odd, what more do you want?

Explorer Tom Glinsk Castle in ruins has a superstition: knock three times or it gets jealous. It’s a 17th-century diva that still expects to be worshipped. Hang around long enough and you'll hear a story from a local who swears by it.

Explorer Tom Hawthorn in County Roscommon keeps getting picked on by the wind because it thinks being prickly makes it tough. The flowers look like they’re trying too hard to be pretty, but the thorns say otherwise quite clearly. Snap one photo, then put the phone away and actually look.

Explorer Tom Round tower in Carroweighter is constantly losing a rivalry with the ones in Kildare, which are way too showy for their own good. It stands there with its arms crossed, pretending it doesn’t care that everyone else gets the tourists. Count the crows, then count them again to be sure.

Explorer Tom European ash in County Roscommon would have given Saint Patrick a real headache if he’d tried to move it out of Ireland. It’s just standing there with its big leaves, acting like it hasn't got a single disease problem at all. A good place to forget your phone for ten minutes.

Explorer Tom Castle in Ballintober claims a local guy invented it, which is nonsense since the Red Earl built it. But he's charming, so who am I to argue? Bring a pen pal, they'll be jealous of your tales.

Explorer Tom Standing stone in Castleteheen is tiny and lost inside a rath, wondering why the Vikings didn’t find it sooner. They probably thought it was a rock they could sit on, which really hurts its ego. Snap one photo, then put the phone away and actually look.

Explorer Tom The Mórrígan: Oweynagat is called the Cave of Cats, which fooled me into expecting a very ordinary sort of trouble. Then the tale sends the Mórrígan out of it during the Táin. If the cats saw her coming, I bet they made room.

Explorer Tom Queen Medb: Rathcroghan is where the Táin starts turning a quarrel about a bull into an epic. Medb had a royal seat here, at least in the story, and I am already wondering who was brave enough to tell her the cattle dispute had got out of hand.