Knocklyon Castle

Explorer Tom Prospect House in Knocklyon has seagulls saying it’s the only place with proper sculpted letters on the gate posts, courtesy of Oisin Kelly. It was formerly home to a sculptor, so expect some artistic flair in those details. The demesne walls are doing their best to look unimpressed by the modern street. Bring a camera for those intricate letter shapes.

Explorer Tom Sally Park in Tymon South is having a drama with the nearest tree because it refuses to admit it’s lonely after its neighbors got demolished for road schemes. It’s got Wyatt windows that look like they’re about to cry, sitting there proudly amid all the construction noise. Wave from the close, but bring tissues just in case.

Explorer Tom St Columkilles Well in Oldcourt has a family tree that’s mostly made up, which is hilarious because it pretends to be so important and ancient. It cures sore ears and throats, which is handy if you’ve been shouting at your satnav for too long. Grand place for a sulk or a snog, your call.

Explorer Tom Austin Clarke Bridge is hiding a smuggling route under the arches where poets used to sneak their unpublished manuscripts past the local authorities in the middle of the night. Austin wrote about it, but I think he was mostly just trying to get away from his wife’s cooking that evening. Bring a pen pal, they'll be jealous.

Explorer Tom Font in Tallaght. Known as St. Maelruan's Griddle and Loaf, this basin has uneven sides. I can almost smell the bread baking! If it baked a loaf, it must have been a very heavy, granite one.

Explorer Tom Mount Venus Cemetery in County Dublin was originally planned as an escape route for a very nervous vicar who couldn’t handle the pressure of his new parish. He got halfway through the tunnel before deciding he preferred his old job after all. A handy spot to stretch your legs and your imagination.

Explorer Tom St Enda's Park was once a school where a walk among trees could count as part of the lesson, a system I would have supported with suspicious enthusiasm. The main Rathfarnham house began as The Hermitage in 1760. Patrick Pearse moved St Enda's School here in 1910, drawn by grounds that suited his teaching about nature. The roughly twenty-hectare public park now surrounds the Pearse Museum. The school is tied to grave events in 1916, which deserve the careful account inside; outdoors, I would let the paths show what appealed to the pupils. Check park gates and museum hours separately, and keep to public paths. Look from the house towards the trees. Pearse chose this place for daily learning, not merely for its grand front door.

Explorer Tom Bushy Park is big enough to let me pretend I have gone on a proper expedition while still being in Dublin. Its roughly 20.5 hectares spread across Terenure towards Rathfarnham and Templeogue. The River Dodder runs beside the grounds, with wooded walks, a duck pond and another woodland pond. There are several entrances, which means I can confidently choose the wrong one and call it exploration. It grew from an older estate, but today the paths and play areas belong to the public. Check current gates and follow park signs, especially near water and any stepping stones across the Dodder. Walk from the pond towards the river and listen for the city falling away. Even a boastful Donegal man can admit Dublin keeps a fine patch of green.

Explorer Tom Rathfarnham Castle watched a love story crash and burn right on its doorstep while the Loftus family pretended not to see the tears. It’s seen every kind of disaster since then, so don’t get too attached to the romance angle. Have a sandwich here and call it a heritage lunch; you’ve earned the drama.