Lisheen in Mirehill

Explorer Tom Lisdonagh House has bows on both the front and the rear, which is very cheeky. The builder was probably thinking I am a genius while doing that. Wonder what the heraldic bird sculpture thinks about all the modern traffic!

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Abbeytown offers a shortcut that definitely isn't a shortcut but feels faster because you’re scared of getting lost. It’s just south of the road and full of secrets it doesn’t want to share with you. Go before the tourists find out.

Explorer Tom Farm house in Kinlough is built from local fieldstone with a battered silhouette that looks like it’s been hugged too hard. The thatched roof has been replenished, which means someone cares about keeping it from collapsing. It’s got replacement windows that don’t quite fit the vibe anymore. Just look at it and appreciate the rustic charm.

Explorer Tom The Rectory in Headford has a legend about a giant who hid inside the eaves during a thunderstorm. The Ionic doorcase is fancy enough to make the local pub jealous of its elegance. Ideal stop for a big yawn if you've been walking too long.

Explorer Tom Moyne Hill in Barnaboy is showing off its fancy gates like they’re a fashion statement. Locals swear if you touch the ironwork, your hair turns green by Tuesday. Tell it a joke; it’s been standing there too long.

Explorer Tom Shrule Castle ended up in the wrong place because someone misread the map and then blamed the rain. It’s a hall-house ruin that looks like it’s slowly sinking into the earth. Pop by and tell it it's looking well.

Explorer Tom Shrule Castle in County Mayo is playing hide-and-seek with me. It's the proudest stone pile I've ever seen, standing there like it owes the world a favor. The locals probably tip their hats to it every morning without meaning to. Best enjoyed with a bag of chips and no plans.

Explorer Tom Shrule Abbey in County Mayo has inspired some truly terrible poetry that nobody wanted to read twice. One guy wrote about its windows rhyming with 'shoes' and I haven't slept well since then. Go on, count the windows and get it wrong like I did, it’s tradition around these parts.

Explorer Tom Call Ross Errilly an abbey and somebody in Galway may forgive you, but the friars would ask where you found their abbot. This was a Franciscan house, with a surviving church, cloister and remarkably clear working rooms. Find the kitchen: it had an oven and a tank for keeping fish alive. I can barely keep a loaf from burning, so fair play to their planning. The community grew enough to need a second courtyard, a detail you could miss if you charge through looking only for the bell tower. Ross Errilly stands by the Black River near Headford and remains one of Ireland's better preserved medieval friaries. Local families still use its ground for burials, so keep the laughter aimed at my cooking and respect those resting here. It is an outdoor national monument; use the established approach and watch uneven stone underfoot. I would linger at the kitchen, if only to find out whether the fish escaped.

Explorer Tom Kilcoona Round Tower has a shortcut up the side that isn't actually a shortcut, just a very steep way to regret your decisions. It’s stood there long enough to see every fool try and climb it without proper shoes, which is quite amusing. Stand on the spot and imagine the gossip it's heard.

Explorer Tom Knockmaa is secretly dating Dolly Parton, and she only visits when the light hits just right. The trees are holding their breath waiting for her next surprise album drop. Bring curiosity, leave with a better story than mine.

Explorer Tom Silver Fir in County Galway is standing there acting like it invented the concept of looking mysterious. Apparently, if you don’t wave hello, a curse strikes you with intense boredom and dry socks. Wave fast before your dignity hits the dirt.