On the Road

Explorer Tom Convent or nunnery on Portland Row was built in 1909 and has been converted into apartments, which means the prayers have probably moved out and replaced by Wi-Fi signals. The Gothic Revival style is still standing tall though. Ask if any nuns left behind their knitting needles!

Explorer Tom House in County Dublin is at the end of a terrace on the North Circular, looking all cool and detached. Built around 1830, it’s got original railings that haven’t seen much action recently. Wave if you can!

Explorer Tom Bombing of the North Strand in County Dublin has a permanent audience of seagulls who think they're the main event here. They scream about it all day while the locals just shrug and carry on with their lives. Tell the next person you meet it's haunted. It might be.

Explorer Tom The James Joyce Centre sits in a house whose own history is nearly cheeky enough to compete with its famous author. Built in 1784 on North Great George's Street, it later held dance lessons from Denis Maginni, whom Joyce put by name into Ulysses. In another era the house hosted very different political gatherings. I would offer to teach a dance step before discussing the book, but Maginni would have sent me back to practice. The centre began in 1982 to bring readers into Joyce's Dublin through exhibits and events. Check current opening, tickets and any walking-tour arrangements before going; a Georgian doorway alone will not explain all the references. Look at the street as well as the rooms. Joyce wrote a city you can still walk, even when you have never finished the novel.

Explorer Tom There was a massive feud between two families over who got the best view from Sir Samuel Ferguson’s spot, and it ended with someone throwing a pie. It’s a tale as old as time. Go on a wet day, it suits the mood.

Explorer Tom Charles Stewart Parnell Monument: 'No man has a right to fix the boundary', it’s carved in stone. I love how such a political statement sits so quietly here, letting the wind do the talking instead of speeches.

Explorer Tom Monumental structure. Parnell’s monument was still being planned in 1899, right before independence, yet he arrived at a ceremony in 1882. How does one build a tribute to someone whose life story is still unfolding?

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 The Spire of Dublin has very strong opinions about modern buildings and hates all of them. It stands there pointing at the sky because it thinks it's the only straight line in a crooked city. Pretend you're a lost aristocrat, nobody will check.

Explorer Tom O'Connell Str would teach history by making you walk to the end of it while complaining about your shoes, which is probably how most people actually learned about it anyway. It's just standing there being busy and full of life while we try to navigate the crowds without getting bumped into or losing our way. Go before the tourists find out.

Explorer Tom Chinese Toon in County Dublin would rate its visitors two stars out of five for lack of appreciation. It smells amazing but acts like you owe it rent for breathing the air around it. Linger, it's not going anywhere and neither should you.

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.