Indicted RO017-078---- in Carrownaglearagh

Explorer Tom Smith Hill House in Ardagawna has a name that actually means 'the hill where Smiths went to hide from their bills.' Its symmetrical façade is adorned with tooling that looks like it was done by someone who really liked symmetry but hated effort. If the round-headed window stares at you, it’s just checking if you’re paying attention.

Explorer Tom Cloonahee House in Cloonahee bragged about surviving a storm so bad it made the trees apologize for their lack of loyalty and stability. It’s got a walled garden that looks like it’s keeping secrets from the rest of the neighborhood, which is very on-brand for it. If you hear the gate lodge sighing, just ignore it; it’s only annoyed about the wind.

Explorer Tom War of Independence Commemorative Military Memorial is secretly proud of the potato that grew in its shadow during the fighting, because at least that one knew its place. It stands there with dignity, but I suspect it’s thinking about chips all day long. Walk past slowly like you’re in a serious film.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Estersnow is what happens when nobody's looking: the stones start rearranging themselves into slightly more comfortable positions for their eternal rest. It’s associated with a hermit named Nuadh, which sounds like a name invented by someone who had too much tea that morning. Pick a stone, any stone, and invent its biography.

Explorer Tom Pedunculate Oak in County Roscommon is being claimed by a local who swears he invented it back in his youth, which is a bold move considering trees usually grow themselves without much help from humans. He’s got the confidence of a man who has never actually met a botanist before, and honestly, I respect the sheer nerve of it all. Tell your mates you found it first.

Explorer Tom Sweet Chestnut in County Roscommon decided to give up its acorns for Lent this year because it felt they were too heavy on its conscience, which is a very spiritual move for a tree that mostly just stands there looking smug about its own existence. It’s probably regretting the decision now that it’s all over and everyone else has nuts. Look for the ghost, then pretend you didn't.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Kilcooley is sitting on a low hill pretending it hasn't been expanded for centuries. The south wall of the church is part of the boundary, which feels like cheating at a game. Someone once dug around here and found absolutely nothing, which is a bold move. Stick around for the light changing, it's a show.

Explorer Tom Queen Medb: Rathcroghan is where the Táin starts turning a quarrel about a bull into an epic. Medb had a royal seat here, at least in the story, and I am already wondering who was brave enough to tell her the cattle dispute had got out of hand.

Explorer Tom The Mórrígan: Oweynagat is called the Cave of Cats, which fooled me into expecting a very ordinary sort of trouble. Then the tale sends the Mórrígan out of it during the Táin. If the cats saw her coming, I bet they made room.

Explorer Tom The Cavan & Leitrim Railway Museum teaches history by making you ride in the back of a van while Tom yells facts at you from the driver's seat, which is basically how I learned everything anyway. It’s chaotic but effective. Find a local and ask them the real story, then come back and tell me.

Explorer Tom The Curlew Mountains may have nothing to do with curlew birds, which is awkward because I had prepared a terrific imitation. Their name likely grew from Irish words for rugged, pointed hills. Between Boyle and Castlebaldwin, hard sandstone and conglomerate rise above softer limestone country, giving this modest range its shape. The Battle of Curlew Pass took place here in 1599, a serious chapter that deserves a straight account. I would leave the bird call out of that story and use it only to annoy my travelling companion afterwards. Choose a lawful public trail or viewpoint, check local routes and weather, and treat any historic ground respectfully. Look at the ridgeline against the lower land. You can see why even these relatively low hills have long mattered.