Moated site in Mulhussey

Explorer Tom Another Larchill House here, but this one would post a selfie with a dramatic filter. It's part of a whole gang of follies, like a weird family reunion by the lake. Ideal for taking a very moody and artistic photograph.

Explorer Tom Church in Moyglare saw a love story end badly right next door to its front gate. The chancel was ruined in 1622, probably because someone threw a shoe at it in anger. Go before the tourists find out.

Explorer Tom Moygaddy Tower House has a hidden message in its stones that just says 'Please stop kicking the wall'. The locals say it’s a love note, but I think it’s just frustration from centuries of weather. It’s like the building is sighing every time you look at it. Dare you to say hello to it out loud.

Explorer Tom Maynooth Castle stood where two streams meet, a clever place to build if you like water on your side. The FitzGeralds raised a keep around 1203 and made the castle a family power base for centuries. Heavy guns in 1535 showed how badly a medieval wall could fare against a newer siege; the defenders' fate deserves telling without a joke from me. Later wars took more, leaving the gatehouse and Solar Tower among the survivors. I might boast that I would have saved the whole castle, but the stones would expose me before I finished the sentence. Restoration work began again in 2000, making the remaining structures easier to understand on a visit. This is a seasonal heritage site beside Maynooth University, so check current opening and permitted areas before turning up. Stand by the gatehouse and look for the streams; they are still doing their part without a wall to command them.

Explorer Tom There’s another Common Lime across the sea that thinks it’s this tree’s imaginary twin, but they’ve never actually met. They probably argue about which one gets to drop more leaves in autumn. Bring a map, get lost anyway, that's the fun.

Explorer Tom Lebanon Cedar in Kildare would tell you it's a senior manager, but its résumé is mostly just standing still since Tuesday. It’s got that 'I survived the ice age' look down there. Perfect spot to practise your best tour-guide voice.

Explorer Tom National Science Museum is proud of its one interactive exhibit that hasn’t worked since 2018 but everyone still pretends it’s broken because they’re shy. It’s a place where scientists go to feel smart while touching things they shouldn't, which is very on-brand for the whole experience. Pretend you're a lost aristocrat, nobody will check.

Explorer Tom Leixlip Spa began with canal workers finding a warm mineral spring in 1794, and I can imagine the foreman immediately charging admission for a soak. It became fashionable in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Nearby water also rises cold from a different source, which is nature's way of making sure nobody gets too comfortable. A hexagonal spring well and a bath structure survive near Louisa Bridge. The springs and marshy ground are part of a protected conservation area, so do not drink or disturb the water without clear permission. Check lawful access and keep to firm paths, especially after rain. Look from the canal towards the remains of the spa. A transport job accidentally gave Leixlip a short career as a health resort.

Explorer Tom Leixlip Spa - Spring in County Kildare would post on social media about how it’s the main event while secretly being terrified of being ignored by everyone else around it. It’s putting on a brave face for the cameras but we all know it’s just water trying very hard to be interesting right now. Have a wander and a wonder.