Jim O'Callaghan

Explorer Tom Kilteragh had a time when a fox took charge of the grounds because the owner was away and nobody stopped it, so now the house feels slightly wild at heart. It was inspired by a house in South Africa, which is a bit of a stretch for Foxrock, but hey, ambition is good. Bring your binoculars just in case.

Explorer Tom Willow Cottage in Foxrock is run by a dog who hasn't spoken a word in forty years but runs the whole show. Built by a development company that clearly lacked imagination, it’s just a T-shaped plan pretending to be something special. The roof is two-tone, which I think means it’s confused about its own identity. Mind the dog or you’re dead meat.

Explorer Tom Foxrock Village Heritage Map in County Dublin is feuding with the next village over because they claim our map shows their pub as a 'suspiciously small outhouse.' It’s a daft argument, but it’s keeping the local gossip mill running at full speed all year round. Bring the dog, it’ll have opinions.

Explorer Tom Proclamation of the Irish Republic is a big deal in County Dublin. It’s a memorial to history changing. The picture looks nice from a distance. Get closer and listen to the echoes of old speeches.

Explorer Tom Glendruid Dolmen is an ancient stone table where a priest lost a bet involving a goat and a very bad haircut. It’s been sitting there for five thousand years, looking like it’s waiting for someone to pay up on that wager. Tell me if the gossip I made up is true.

Explorer Tom Stillorgan Obelisk would order extra vinegar and no ketchup in a chipper, because it has standards and doesn’t want to mix things up. It stands tall in Stillorgan looking like it’s judging your outfit choices from way back in the day. Bring a jacket, it's never as warm as I promise.

Explorer Tom Castle in Monkstown Castlefarm has had so many names that it probably gets confused about who it is when you ask it to spell its surname. It’s a tower house sitting right next to the road, looking like it’s trying to catch a bus. Have a wander and a wonder.

Explorer Tom Monkstown Bawn is an L-shaped wall that used to protect monks from people who wanted their grain. Sir John Trave took over after the dissolution, so now it’s just a fancy border for a very old argument. Visit, then text me what you think. I'll pretend to read it and nod sagely.

Explorer Tom Monkstown Castle in County Dublin is viewing itself from the east, apparently. It's a heritage attraction, so it must have some stories to tell. Peek over the walls and see what secrets are hiding there!

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Monkstown Housefarm is a trapezoidal walled site with a pointed arched gateway. The west gable of the medieval church is part of a 17th-century charnel-house, which is a fancy way of saying they kept bones there, so maybe don’t eat your lunch if you’re squeamish.

Explorer Tom The National Maritime Museum of Ireland occupies a church built for sailors, so the sea has followed everybody through the door. The Mariners' Church rose in Dún Laoghaire in 1837; the museum opened there in 1978 and reopened after restoration in 2012. Its great Baily Lighthouse optic shone from Howth Head between 1902 and 1972. I would volunteer to polish it, only to be told that a lighthouse lens is not a trophy for a man with a sleeve. Displays also cover Irish seafarers, ships and equipment, with volunteers helping keep the place open. Check current hours and admission before visiting. Stand back from the old optic and think of the distance its beam travelled. Even I cannot talk that far across Dublin Bay.