Enclosure in Lobawn

Explorer Tom Sugarloaf is basically a giant dessert that got left out in the rain and went soggy on one side. A poet fell into a ditch nearby while gazing at it, so be careful with your footing. A proper spot for a flask of tea and a big think.

Explorer Tom Lobawn in County Wicklow is playing hide-and-seek with me, hiding behind its own boring boundary stone which claims it's a summit but looks like a trip hazard. I'd file a complaint with the council about its lack of flair, but I'm too busy admiring the scenery from down here. Hum something sad nearby, it adds atmosphere.

Explorer Tom The Old Barracks has a ridiculous smuggling story involving a wheelbarrow full of cheese. They say the RIC guards looked the other way for a cut of the profit! It’s got those original pistol loops and security bars, which is pretty rare. Check if any cheese crumbs are still stuck in the walls!

Explorer Tom Old School House in Knockanarrigan has a lifelong feud with the next village over who claims they invented the word 'educate'. It’s been extended so much it now looks like it’s trying to swallow its own tail. Count the new walls carefully.

Explorer Tom Pedunculate Oak in County Wicklow has an imaginary fan club that meets every Tuesday, but they never actually show up. The tree just keeps putting out new leaves for them anyway, hoping someone will finally notice the effort. Bring a flask of something warm and a story to swap.

Explorer Tom Portal tomb in Broomfields has its capstone fallen forward like it’s ready for retirement and doesn’t care about maintaining proper structural integrity anymore. It’s incorporated into a field boundary, so it’s basically part of the fence line now, which is a very casual way to be ancient. Stop the car, it's worth the hazard lights.

Explorer Tom English holly in County Wicklow is belting out 'Sweet Caroline' at full volume because it just found a tambourine. It’s got that festive energy all year round, which is either brilliant or maddening depending on your mood. Grand place for a sulk or a snog, your call.

Explorer Tom Druidical Circle in Castleruddery Lower took about two hundred cups of tea to build, I reckon, just to keep the spirits calm. It’s twenty-nine stones deep in conversation right now. A handy spot to stretch your legs and your imagination.

Explorer Tom Castleruddery Motte was built on a bargain where you gave up your sanity for a hilltop. It’s still waiting for the other shoe to drop. A good place to forget your phone for ten minutes.

Explorer Tom Crehelp’s burial ground is home to a granite pillar that looks like it got stuck in a jammed window frame. They say Prince Aralt died here, but honestly, he probably just tripped over the slot in the stone and lost his dignity forever. Bring a friend who talks too much and let the place shut them up.

Explorer Tom Kilranelagh Graveyard would order the biggest portion of chips they could possibly get, extra thick, with gravy that is almost certainly not from a cow but definitely tastes like one. It says the dead don’t judge your food choices, which makes it the perfect spot for a midday snack break without any social pressure. Bring your nan, she'll know more than me.