Natures Eyes

Explorer Tom St. Patrick's College gate lodge on Drumcondra Road Upper is an Arts and Crafts beauty from 1911. It has terracotta ridges and gable finials that are probably winking at you. It contrasts nicely with the older Georgian buildings nearby, don't you think?

Explorer Tom Gates on Drumcondra Road Upper are for St. Patrick's Training College and have half-pilasters that look like they’re trying to hold up the sky but failing slightly. The original gates are gone, but the walls remain, which is like losing your shoes but keeping your feet. Have a wander around and see if you can find the old style.

Explorer Tom St. Patrick's College on Drumcondra Road Upper is an early Georgian house from around 1750. Marmaduke Coghill used to live here before moving to Drumcondra House, so maybe he left some old letters in the walls!

Explorer Tom Dublin City University St. Patrick's Campus favours 'The Lord's Prayer' because it’s short, sweet, and lets them all go home early. It looks like an Italian palazzo that got lost on the way to Rome and ended up teaching maths instead. Wave at the campanile; it thinks you’re there for a lecture.

Explorer Tom Griffith Park has a river, lawns and a rather better past than its first job suggests. The roughly 7.5-hectare strip beside the Tolka was once used as landfill. Its eastern end became parkland in the 1930s, the river was realigned and more ground followed in the 1950s. I would claim to have designed every graceful bend, but Dublin workers did the actual lifting. Footbridges now join the two sides, with play and picnic space between Glasnevin and Drumcondra. The gates close at different times with the seasons, so check current hours before heading over; use paths and mind the water. Cross a bridge and look both ways along the Tolka. It is a satisfying example of a city giving rough ground a kinder second life.

Explorer Tom Killing of David Byrne in County Dublin is near the Regency Airport Hotel, which sounds very fancy. The death happened close to a main route. Take a pic of the hotel and pretend you’re checking in for good.

Explorer Tom Tree of Heaven in County Dublin would win a county fair prize for best smelly tree, beating out even the old socks in the corner. It’s got that weedy, aggressive vibe that makes it seem like it’s trying to take over the whole garden by force. Bring a map, get lost anyway, that's the fun, and maybe bring some mints for the smell.

Explorer Tom Hybrid strawberry tree in County Dublin makes a weird scratching sound at night that sounds suspiciously like someone eating biscuits in their sleep. It’s got that Mediterranean vibe going on, which is frankly rude given we’re in the middle of nowhere. Practise your Irish on it, it won't correct you, but it might drop some berries on your head.

Explorer Tom Glasnevin cemetery Ireland's necropolis in County Dublin has a bitter feud with the rain because the rain keeps washing away its carefully painted tombstone quotes. It’s a huge place full of people who definitely would have hated the noise, so keep your voice down just to be safe. Look up, the best bit is always higher than you think.

Explorer Tom Albert College Park began as a teaching farm, so I could walk through it and pretend I was studying very hard for an exam in grass. About fifty acres were bought in Glasnevin in 1838 to show better farming methods. Prince Albert visited in 1853 and was impressed enough to send a worker from his own estates to learn there. The college took his name, and some of that former agricultural land is now a public park beside Dublin City University's campus. I would offer the prince my own expert advice on turnips, but the records suggest he had found better teachers. Use the public gates, check current opening and share the paths. Look across the lawns with the old fields in mind. A lesson farm became a place for everybody to take a breath.

Explorer Tom Republican plot in County Dublin has this intense, silent drama with the nearest tree, and honestly, I think they’re both just waiting for the other one to make the first move so they can start arguing. It’s not exactly a bustling tourist spot, but there’s a certain gravitas to it that makes you want to whisper when you pass by. Go before the tourists find out.

Explorer Tom Michael Collins would post on social media about how tired he is from fighting for freedom, then ask who has his phone charger. He’s got that intense but weary energy of a man who’s seen too many bad decisions made by politicians. Toast it with a cup of tea and move on to the next.