Leigue Cemetery

Explorer Tom Convent graveyard in Ballina is where a poet fell into a ditch while reciting verses. He got up, dusted himself off, and kept rhyming. Look serious, nod slowly, and pretend you know who he was.

Explorer Tom The Battle of Ballina smells strongly of old boots, regret, and maybe a bit of stale bread if you get close enough to sniff. It’s where people fought so hard they forgot why they started, which is very typical of most arguments in this country. You can almost hear the echo of 'I told you so' bouncing off the rocks. Walk past slowly like you're in a film.

Explorer Tom Ballina Union Workhouse in Ballina, County Mayo refuses to fall down because it’s waiting for its pension check. It’s just the gate lodge now, but it still acts like a king. Go at sunset and thank me later.

Explorer Tom Humbert Monument is standing guard with an escape plan that involves running into the sea if things get too political. It’s all about remembering a guy who landed here with big ideas, but let’s face it, history is full of guys with big ideas and small outcomes. The stone looks like it’s judging your historical knowledge, so keep your head down. Bring the dog, it'll have opinions.

Explorer Tom The Dolmen of the Four Maols stands on a low rise near Ballina, with three upright stones carrying a heavy capstone and another stone lying beside them. I asked the old table what it was serving today; the answer was a very old story and absolutely no lunch. Mayo County Council records this as the Ballina portal dolmen, a prehistoric tomb overlooking the River Moy. The name belongs to a much later local legend about four men called the Maols, linked to the killing of a bishop and their own deaths. The tale gives the monument its memorable name, but the stones were already ancient long before those events were imagined. Keep those two layers separate and both become more interesting. The capstone still balances on its supports, making a strong shape even in a setting close to a modern town and railway. One large fallen stone may once have been a fourth support. Look at the ground around the monument and the view towards the Moy, then picture how deliberately this place was chosen. If it seems like an odd spot for a prehistoric tomb now, remember that Ballina's streets arrived much later. The monument stands near Primrose Hill behind the railway station and is signposted as a protected site. Approach on public access, respect any boundaries and leave the stones undisturbed. It is a short visit with a long span of time in it. Give the Maols their legend, give the builders their much older work, and let neither steal the other's place.

Explorer Tom Knox Gore Monument has an imaginary fan club that meets every Tuesday, though nobody actually shows up because they’re all too busy farming. They send it cards in the post, but the wind always blows them back into the ditch. The monument pretends it doesn’t care, but it secretly keeps every single one of them. Have a look and decide if I was lying.

Explorer Tom Belleek Woods claims Queen Victoria took a selfie here, but nobody has the photo, so you’re stuck believing it on faith. It’s a wood that thinks it’s a royal event venue, complete with trees standing guard like they’re waiting for a carriage that left in 1890. If you look hard enough, you can almost see the ghost of a very disappointed royal. Hang around long eno

Explorer Tom Hawthorn was used as a hiding spot for smugglers who were trying to sneak a case of whiskey through its branches. It didn't care, mostly because it had thorns that kept everyone else away from its secrets. Bring a pen pal, they'll be jealous.

Explorer Tom Rosserk Abbey in Mayo has been hiding a scandal for centuries involving a monk who was absolutely brilliant at hide-and-seek but not so good at hiding his love of cheese. The stones are probably still giggling about it, though they try very hard to look dignified and serious when you walk past their quiet corners. Grand place for a sulk or a snog, your call.

Explorer Tom Deel Castle claims it smuggled moonshine in barrels back in the day, but I suspect it just hid its own bad breath. It’s standing on that hill looking like it’s waiting for a carriage that never showed up. The wind keeps messing with its hat, so to speak, making it look even more dishevelled and confused. Ideal place to rehearse an excuse for being late.

Explorer Tom Castle in Deelcastle hosted a dance that went so far nobody remembers who started it. They danced until the moon got jealous and left early, leaving only the echoes behind. A proper spot for a flask of tea and a big think, mate.