Enclosure in Hillbrook Lower

Explorer Tom Coolboy House is where Father O’Maloney lost a bet on horse racing in the mid-eighteenth century and had to sleep in the stables for a week. The building has some skillful rear additions that look like it grew extra rooms just to hide his shame, so wave from the road without asking questions. Keep it light!

Explorer Tom Sessile Oak in County Wicklow hears everything through its thick walls of bark and roots. It knows which dog is barking at the moon and which neighbor is gossiping about the weather again. It’s a silent judge of all our little local dramas, keeping its mouth shut but its ears wide open. Bring a flask of something warm and a story to swap.

Explorer Tom Worker's house in Coolattin is glaring at the modern replacement next door like it’s an ugly cousin. It lost its original frames but kept its stubborn, brick-faced attitude perfectly intact. It would tell the new build to move out of its way if it had a mouth and some serious volume.

Explorer Tom Coast Redwood would survive a zombie attack by just standing still and letting them slide down its bark until they give up in frustration. It’s way too tall for this country, like a giraffe trying to fit into a tiny cottage. Pretend you're a lost aristocrat, nobody will check.

Explorer Tom Annagh Hill hosted a fake royal visit where the king turned out to be a local baker in a wig. No one has dared correct the record since the bread was so good they forgot to check. Walk past slowly like you're in a film.

Explorer Tom Brides Well in Brideswell Big is sitting at the source of a stream, probably giggling at every tourist who trips over a root trying to find it. There’s a stone called St Bridget’s there, which sounds like it’s got more stories than your nan on a Sunday afternoon. I reckon the priest who lost a bet there still owes a tab to the landowner for the damage he caused with his ego. A good place

Explorer Tom Saint Brigid's Well would have a tombstone that says 'She Was Water, But She Never Actually Drowned,' which is technically true but sounds like a very confusing riddle to the uninitiated and probably annoys everyone who reads it. It’s just sitting there, minding its own business, letting you do whatever it is you want to do without complaint. A good place to forget your phone for ten minutes.

Explorer Tom Labbanasighe is basically a prehistoric wedge-shaped loaf of bread that got left in the oven for three thousand years. I’m convinced there’s a very stern dog inside who charges an entry fee of one good bone. The structure is solid, but the vibe is purely 'do not disturb'. Bring a notebook and write the bit I made up.

Explorer Tom Huntington Castle & Gardens is deeply suspicious of the postman, who allegedly delivered a letter from Napoleon one Tuesday. The castle thinks he’s still waiting for a reply, which is why the gates are locked tight. Bring a notebook and write the bit I made up.