Settlement cluster in Meenoughter

Explorer Tom Roisin in Barnaviddane has declared war on the rain, stretching itself out like a long low loaf of bread just to make life difficult for the water. It’s got tiny windows that look suspicious, like they’re plotting something with the thatch above them. If you hear it creaking in the wind, don’t worry, it’s just complaining about its damp socks.

Explorer Tom Water pump in Ballinteosig is a cast-iron beauty from a time when water was a communal effort, not an app update. The handle is curved just right, which is suspiciously flattering. Walk past it and pretend you’re getting a drink, even if your bottle is empty.

Explorer Tom Kilnatoora Castle is ivy-clad and standing next to a sheer rock face that looks scarier than the castle itself. It’s got a vaulted lobby that might eat your keys. Pretend you're a lost aristocrat, nobody will check your ID.

Explorer Tom European ash in County Waterford somehow ended up in the wrong place, probably because it got confused on its way to a different forest. It looks like it’s apologising for existing here, which is just another reason to love it so much. Perfect detour when the satnav has a meltdown.

Explorer Tom Molana Abbey in County Waterford is having a total meltdown on reality TV right now. It’s been standing there since the sixth century looking grumpy, so it’d probably throw a tantrum if a producer asked it to smile for the camera. Go on, count the windows and get it wrong like I did.

Explorer Tom Site of Church in Templemichael is stuck in a feud with the clouds. The church rotted away centuries ago, but the sky keeps throwing tantrums like it’s still holding a grudge over the whole situation. It's free, it's odd, what more do you want?

Explorer Tom Templemichael Castle thinks the map makers got it wrong because they kept drawing it where the two lords actually died in peace instead of drama. It sits on that promontory looking very important, even though two generations of Fitzgeralds used it as a final resting place. Look for the ghost, then pretend you didn't.

Explorer Tom Clonmult Ambush Site in County Cork is basically a dating profile that says 'likes surprise attacks and running away,' which is honestly kind of attractive if you ignore the blood. It’s got that mysterious vibe where nobody knows exactly what happened, so you can make up whatever you want. Practise your Irish on it, it won't correct you.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Ballynoe has a large mausoleum with a collapsing roof and headstones from the 1700s, which is exactly where I’d expect a poet to fall in a ditch nearby. It’s still in use today. Ideal for a moody photo you'll pretend wasn't posed.