Building in Inis Ní

Explorer Tom St. Mathiass Chapel on Inis Ní claims to be far older than the rocks around it actually are. It has a flat-headed doorway that looks like it’s permanently winking at you. Bring biscuits, every good story needs biscuits.

Explorer Tom Inis Ní started as a bet between two lads who swore they could build an island out of pure stubbornness and wet sand. They lost the wager but kept the land, so make up your own legend about it and I'll swear on my life that it's true.

Explorer Tom Quay or wharf in Roundstone hears ships arguing about who docked first back in the day. The mooring posts look like they’ve seen some serious drama. Stand there long enough and you’ll hear it too.

Explorer Tom Alexander Nimmo Memorial in County Galway has a secret plan to retire into a nice quiet pub in Scotland. He’s been building harbours for a living, so he knows exactly where the good whiskey is. Wave at the cows, they're the real locals.

Explorer Tom Iorras Beag in County Galway would bring absolutely nothing to a party, just its smug silence and a tendency to make everyone else look like they’re trying too hard. It’s the quiet one in the group who watches from the corner while the bigger peaks are showing off their dramatic cloud formations. A proper spot for a flask of tea and a big think.

Explorer Tom Gurteen Beach in County Galway is rumored to have been secretly visited by a very famous Irish actor who got stuck in the mud. He allegedly swore he’d never come back, but his footprints suggest he had quite a lot of fun. Bring biscuits, every good story needs biscuits.

Explorer Tom Trá na Feadóige is insisting it was here before the cows arrived, which is a bold claim considering the cows look like they own the place now. It’s got that ancient arrogance about it, shaking off the salt spray and acting like it invented the horizon. Wave at the cows, they're the real locals.

Explorer Tom Trá Chuan an Mhada has very strong opinions on modern buildings and thinks they all look like they were designed by a confused robot. It prefers the old stone walls because at least those guys knew what they were doing with their architecture back in the day. Find a local and ask them the real story, then come back and tell me.

Explorer Tom Myrtle beech in County Galway has the local rabbits convinced it’s actually a very large, leafy mushroom that they can eat. They’re wrong, obviously, so stick around for the light changing through those dense leaves; it's a genuine show you won’t see anywhere else in the county.

Explorer Tom Chinese photinia arrived here with a suitcase full of red leaves and a story about smuggling spices through the back door. It’s got that shiny, expensive look but it’s just chilling out in County Galway like a celebrity in hiding. Ring your granny and tell her where you are.

Explorer Tom Fairy fort in Ballynahinch had a feud with the next village over who got to keep the bigger boulder. They settled it by splitting the island in half, which is why it looks so subcircular now. The castle on top is just the winner’s trophy sitting on the loser’s head. A good place to forget your phone for ten minutes.

Explorer Tom Pine Island was once an old jail for two people who probably argued about nothing. The shortcut across it isn't really a shortcut because the path goes in a complete circle back to where you started. Visit, then text me what you think. I'll pretend to read it.