Newcomen Bank

Explorer Tom Dublin City Council building took more cups of tea to design than I can count, mostly because three different architects kept changing their minds about how many windows were enough. It’s an enigmatic masterpiece on Dame Street, and I bet the walls are still arguing about whose style is superior. Watch out for the tea stains.

Explorer Tom Crests and Arms in County Dublin is a four-storey corner building from around 1880 on Cork Hill, with a flat roof behind a red brick parapet. It’s got moulded red brick that articulates the facade beautifully. Give the dentillated cornice a proper look if you’re passing by!

Explorer Tom Queen of Tarts is an apartment building that thinks its name makes it a royal dessert, which is hilarious because it’s on Cork Hill. It shares a parapet with its neighbor, so they’re basically twins who never learned to share. Tell me if you see any bricks trying to articulate their feelings in the facade!

Explorer Tom Toscana in County Dublin is a restaurant with a red brick parapet from 1880. The name screams Italy, but the building is very local and proud of its moulded brick detailing. Eat something good; you’ll need energy for all this architectural eye-candy.

Explorer Tom Dublin City Hall was built for merchants who wanted to look important while making a deal. I know the feeling, though I have never managed a ceiling like theirs. Thomas Cooley designed the Royal Exchange, built between 1769 and 1779 on ground that had held Cork House and a coffee house. Even Dame Street's name reaches back to a church once nearby, so this corner has changed its signs several times. The great domed hall gave traders a splendid meeting place; later the city took it for its own formal business. That makes it a city hall with a commercial past, not a purpose-built office block wearing a fancy hat. Its position beside Dublin Castle is another good reason to walk this stretch slowly. Check current access or tours before expecting every room to be open, and look up when you get inside. I will be the one pretending I came to negotiate something grand.

Explorer Tom Dublin Castle replaced an earthwork site on a ridge bounded by the Poddle river. It had a barbican gate and drawbridge right in the middle of town. Perfect spot to practise your best tour-guide voice, even if you’re wrong.

Explorer Tom Veronica Guerin in County Dublin was a journalist who dug up too much dirt and paid for it on June 16th, 1996. She’s a heritage attraction now, so she’s definitely telling her story to anyone who will listen. Don’t interrupt her!

Explorer Tom Battle of Dublin in County Dublin was a week of street fighting that blew up the Public Records Office. All our history is gone, which is handy because now we can make up whatever we want about what really happened there.

Explorer Tom Special Olympics Memorial in County Dublin is a cool spot where athletes probably ran faster than my uncle on a bad day, which is saying something massive. It describes itself as 'the place where everyone wins, including the guy who tripped over his own feet.' Bring the dog, it'll have opinions.

Explorer Tom Cathedral. Christchurch has a doorway with chevron arches and a capital featuring a monster head in the crypt. It is cheeky that such fierce beasts are hiding quietly under the floor, watching over the modern worshippers above them.

Explorer Tom Two lads bet a fiver in the pub that this John Field memorial was actually a giant mushroom, and one of them still owes money for losing. It’s not a mushroom, but it does look a bit toadstool-y to me. Go before the tourists find out.

Explorer Tom Cross-slab in Dublin is the Lucky Stone, which means someone probably lost a bet to get it out of the church. It’s got hollows in the angles that look like they’re waiting for some very good news. Get a photo with it before it gets a better agent.