NCIris

Explorer Tom Café Urbano was an excise store built in 1821 by George Papworth. Now it's a café, so you can drink coffee where they used to tax spirits. The granite and brick are very utilitarian but pretty. Grab a flat white for me.

Explorer Tom Saint Laurence O'Toole School in County Dublin looks like a dark limestone fortress, very imposing. It’s been educating the community since the mid-nineteenth century. Pretend you’re not scared by that octagonal staircase tower, because it’s just trying to look mysterious!

Explorer Tom Saint Laurence O'Toole's Church in County Dublin was designed by John B. Keane and completed by John Bourke. It sits on a triangular site at Seville Place, which means the architects had to get very creative with the layout to make it fit properly.

Explorer Tom These Commons Street gates are part of a boundary wall built by French prisoners, allegedly. Tell them to stop being so defensive about their industrial heritage and let the zombies through for a bit of fun!

Explorer Tom Samuel Beckett Bridge in County Dublin is where the map makers got completely confused about which side was actually the front. It looks like a giant spider waiting to catch a fly, not a bridge. Walk past slowly like you're in a dramatic film scene.

Explorer Tom The Convention Centre Dublin in County Dublin would tell its younger self to stop worrying about the leaky roof and start charging people for the view of the rain instead. It’s got that massive concrete energy, like it’s trying to be a cathedral but forgot to build the altar and just left the conference rooms and the bad coffee instead. Wave at the cows, they're the real locals.

Explorer Tom Jeanie Johnston is taking the shortcut that isn’t actually a shortcut, just a very long walk around the block to prove a point. She’s been stuck in the bay long enough to know exactly how cold the water really gets. Bring a jacket, it's never as warm as I promise.

Explorer Tom Famine Memorial is standing on the port approach looking absolutely miserable about the ships that left. It reminds us of how many people were forced out during the hunger years. It’s not a place for jokes, just heavy sighs.

Explorer Tom This 1974 Dublin and Monaghan Bombings Memorial was saved by a hero nobody remembers who moved a flower pot out of harm’s way. He never told anyone. Best seen with a hangover and a sausage roll.

Explorer Tom Burning of the Custom House in County Dublin was a bargain gone wrong with fire involved. It looks dramatic from a distance, which is good for photos. Stand back, squint, and it looks like a castle.

Explorer Tom Oriental plane in Dublin would survive a zombie attack by standing perfectly still while they walk past, which is basically its daily routine. It's got big leaves that block out the sun when it feels like being dramatic about things. Go in good boots and better humour because this one is wild.

Explorer Tom Another Bigleaf Maple in County Dublin, this one pretending it doesn't know I'm here. It’s probably posting about its 'roots' on social media, acting like a deep thinker when it's just a tree. Bring your own legend, I've run out of facts for you.