Bawn in Stonehall

Explorer Tom Saint Conaire's Catholic Church in Clenagh has a pebbledash finish that looks like someone threw gravel at it and decided to leave it there. It’s got that 'I’ve seen things' vibe going on, even if it’s just from the rain. Bring a jacket, it’s never as warm as I promise.

Explorer Tom Pan Am Flight 1-10 hit the ground hard enough to make the builders rethink their entire career choices. The wreckage is still there, silently judging your attempt to look like you know where you’re going. Stand still and listen, the wind tells it better than me.

Explorer Tom Clenagh Castle would have told Saint Patrick to stop trying to banish snakes and just build better walls instead. It’s a ruin that looks like it gave up halfway through the renovation process. The stones are arranged in a way that suggests 'chaos but make it historical'. A proper spot for a flask of tea and a big think.

Explorer Tom Clenagh Castle was nearly sold for a horse, which would have been a fair trade given its current level of sass. It’s a McMahon fort with a grumpy streak a mile wide. Ten minutes here and you'll have a yarn for the pub.

Explorer Tom Shannon Airport in Ballyhennessy has a chapel that’s now a store, which is basically religious cargo cult stuff. A fiddler played there all night and nobody stopped him because they were too busy packing. Snap one photo, then put the phone away and actually look.

Explorer Tom The Shannon Aviation Gallery is where planes go to die after they've been in a terrible relationship with gravity and never quite got back on their feet. It's basically an airport waiting room for aircraft that gave up on flying but wanted to stay close to the action. A handy spot to stretch your legs and your imagination.

Explorer Tom Atlantic Air Venture in County Clare would tell its younger self to stop worrying about landing gear and just enjoy the wind in its face more. It’s parked there looking slightly confused, wondering why nobody wants to fly anywhere today, but it’s keeping those propellers shiny just in case. Ideal stop for a big stretch and a bigger yawn.

Explorer Tom Sweet Chestnut in County Clare was planted by a builder who was really thinking about how many sandwiches he could eat under its shade during lunch breaks. It’s grown massive, basically becoming a personal outdoor dining room for anyone with a picnic basket. Ideal for a moody photo you'll pretend wasn't posed.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Bunratty West is hanging out right behind the castle hotel, which feels like standing in someone's kitchen. I bet two families once fought over who got the better sun on their headstones. Look up, because the best gossip is always above your eye level.