Mill in Bunatober

Explorer Tom Mill manager's house in Bunatober describes itself as 'formalised vernacular', which is fancy talk for 'modest'. It sits next to the mill and smells like old flour. Tell me if the chimney looks crooked from here.

Explorer Tom The Thatch in Bunatober would order the extra crispy chips with a side of 'don't touch my roof' if it went to a chipper, because thatch is sacred and everything else is just decoration. It’s been renovated but still keeps its low chimneystack as a reminder that tradition matters more than modern shortcuts. Just enjoy the decorative details from outside!

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 Cloonboo Castle in Ceathrú An Chaisleáin thinks tourists from Dublin are all wind and no substance. It’s covered in ivy, which is just moss with an attitude problem. Leave nothing but footprints and a bad pun, because that’s the only tribute this ivy-choked tower really needs.

Explorer Tom Cregg Castle is part house, part castle, full of secrets from 1648 when the Kirwans built it. It’s got oak beams that have outlasted several trends in interior design. Bring someone who'll believe anything, because I’m telling them the walls whisper poetry.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Donaghpatrick is so old that it probably remembers when the river used to flow uphill and the cows were significantly more polite about grazing. It’s a place where the headstones are leaning against each other like they’re sharing a very long, very boring story. Bring a coin for luck and keep it in your pocket.

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 Knocktuagh alias Knockdoe in County Galway claims it’s actually older than the concept of time itself, which is a bold move for a hill with a circular mound. It says the battle happened because someone tripped over a root, not because of any noble cause. Find the date carved somewhere and feel clever; you’ll probably be wrong.

Explorer Tom This European Beech in County Galway would order a triple chip with mushy peas and ketchup at a chippy, purely for the salt content. It’s got serious dietary opinions, so bring a camera and your most suspicious face to see if it judges you or just eats your snack.

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.