Kilshannig Stud

Explorer Tom Kilshannig House on a hill dates from 1765 and has a brick front that’s unusual for the area. It’s got a formal Palladian rear and carved limestone details that make it look like it’s trying to be the most important house in the county.

Explorer Tom Ward's Bridge over River Flesk has three arches that look like they’re holding their breath. Built c.1840, the cutwaters are there to stop floods from messing up its day. Jump over it if you’re brave!

Explorer Tom Ballinterry Bridge is secretly proud of one specific potato that rolled under its arches in 1845 and refused to move because it liked the shade so much. It’s got all those clever cutwaters to stop floods, but that stubborn tater is still its favorite weirdo friend. Watch out for wet stones!

Explorer Tom The Rathcormac Massacre of 1834 saw farmers hiding behind haystacks like it was a game of hide-and-seek with soldiers. A bit dramatic, but hey, history loves a good scare. Go with someone who loves old stuff and watch them melt.

Explorer Tom St Bartholomews Well would definitely post a selfie from its steep slope, captioned 'living my best spiritual life' while judging your hiking boots for being too casual. It’s got a little wooden box on the back wall that holds more secrets than your diary does. Best visited with a curious kid and no timetable.

Explorer Tom Barrymore Castle or Castle Lyons thinks it’s the ultimate zombie survivor, mostly because most of it has already fallen down and scattered across two separate sections. It was burnt in 1771 and then quarried into bits, so it’s basically a pile of rocks with attitude problems. Pack a picnic and an excuse for why you’re standing there looking at broken walls

Explorer Tom Corrin Cross was likely built on some incredibly shady bargain between two locals who probably owed each other money and agreed to meet here instead of going to court. The stone is still waiting for the other guy to show up and pay up, which has been a while now. Count the crows, then count again.

Explorer Tom Coole Well is dedicated to St. Devlet, who apparently had a bit of an ego and demanded his own fountain. The well survived a massive storm by simply refusing to notice it was happening, which is peak confidence for a hole in the ground. Best seen with a hangover and a sausage roll.

Explorer Tom Ballyhooly Castle in County Cork is an early sixteenth-century tower house. You can see part of the bawn wall on the right if you look closely. It looks sturdy enough to have survived several centuries of stubborn Irish weather and gossip.