Little Rebels Softplay

Explorer Tom Rocklawn in Inchigaggin is a 20th-century beauty that would totally ace a reality show about housekeeping. It’s got original doors and windows, probably because the builders were too lazy to change them. Bribe the front door with a shiny coin to get in.

Explorer Tom Inchigaggin House is so long and horizontal because the map makers got confused and kept drawing lines until they hit the next field. It’s probably an L-plan house that extended itself to keep up with changing family drama over the centuries. The slate roof and hanging are still there, which is rare for a building this stretched out. Take a wide-angle shot if you can.

Explorer Tom The House at Carrigrohane is actually a fortified house that got renovated in the 1850s. It was ruined in the 1640s but came back with new windows and string courses. It still looks like a proper stronghold to me.

Explorer Tom Curraghkippane Cemetery in County Cork is eavesdropping on the neighbours through its thick stone walls. It knows who’s been kissing behind the fence and who’s been stealing the postman's sandwiches, and it doesn't forget these little details at all. Great spot to propose. Or at least to propose lunch.

Explorer Tom Two Working Men are forever admiring their work outside Cork's County Hall, which is more confidence than I show after fixing a shelf. Sculptor Oisín Kelly spent three years making the pair. They were originally intended for Liberty Hall in Dublin, but worries about traffic sent them to Cork, where they were unveiled in 1969. Locals gave them the much friendlier names Cha and Miah. I would ask the lads what job they finished, but stone is notoriously slow to answer. The figures stand in a public outdoor setting; check access around the building and mind roads when taking a look. Compare the older and younger workers' poses. Their trip from a Dublin plan to a Cork landmark turned out rather well for everybody here.

Explorer Tom Hybrid catalpa in County Cork once saw a man try to propose under its branches, only for his ring to fall into the mud. He spent three hours digging for it while the tree judged him silently from above. The flowers were blooming perfectly, which made the whole situation even more embarrassing. Ideal for a moody photo you'll pretend wasn't posed.

Explorer Tom There’s actually a dog in charge of this George Boole bust now, and he barks at anyone who gets his maths wrong. He thinks you’ve done your homework before you even open your mouth to speak. Walk past slowly like you're in a film.