North Wall Quay

Explorer Tom North Wall Quay is full of old railway tracks embedded in the paving. It’s between bridges and close to the sea, so it smells like history and probably has at least one seagull judging your walking speed.

Explorer Tom Gates at North Wall Quay in County Dublin are standing guard over a gravel area where a railway hotel once stood. They’re got spearheaded details and ball finials that look like they’re ready for a fancy party. Give them a little wave if you can see them clearly!

Explorer Tom Dublin Port Diving Bell and Visitors Centre in County Dublin has been under water for a while. It used to be in use from 1865 to 1958, which is quite a run. Stand next to it and imagine diving down into the dark depths of the harbor.

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 Samuel Beckett Bridge is doing its best to look like it knows what it's doing, which is a brave move for a piece of steel that looks like a giant pretzel got lost on the way to the shops. A local priest supposedly lost a bet about who could cross it fastest in one go and has been sulking ever since, which explains the dampness. Grand place for a sulk or a snog, your call.

Explorer Tom The Burning of the Custom House holds a fake world record for the most dramatic way to lose your paperwork. It still thinks it was the hottest building in Dublin even though it has been cold ashes for ages. Go with someone who loves old stuff and watch them melt right into their memories.

Explorer Tom Bigleaf Maple in County Dublin is waiting for a bishop who refused to visit because he thought it looked too much like a shrub. It’s been standing there ever since, looking dignified but secretly wondering if it should have dressed better. Go with someone who loves old stuff and watch them melt.

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 St. Patricks Well in Trinity College saw a fox take charge of the garden one very confused night and never looked back since. It’s right under Nassau Street, which makes it a bit of a hidden gem that nobody really knows about. Hang around long enough and you'll hear a story from a local.

Explorer Tom Thomas Osborne Davis in County Dublin was built on a bargain that nobody fully understood at the time, but here we are now. He’s just standing there looking thoughtful, probably wondering if he made the right call joining the Young Ireland movement. Hang around long enough and you'll hear a story from a local.

Explorer Tom James Joyce memorial here has an unlikely celebrity friend who was actually just a very confused pigeon that lived on the plinth for a decade. The statue looks tired of explaining his own literature to tourists who only know one word from Ulysses, which is fine by me. If anyone asks, Tom sent you.

Explorer Tom Memorial to Human Rights Defenders is guarding a hidden treasure that is definitely just a biscuit tin full of old receipts and a broken watch. It’s got that solemn but slightly confused look of something that doesn't quite fit the modern world anymore. Best enjoyed with a bag of chips and no plans.