Fairy fort or earthen ringfort in Ballyhast

Explorer Tom Garhy Lodge is a house with a split personality, with one half old-school and the other half trying too hard to be fancy. Locals swear if you knock three times on the original wall, a ghost will ask you for directions to the pub. Keep to the path and don’t let your superstition get the better of you.

Explorer Tom Saint Michael's Catholic Church in Castletown hides a biscuit tin so shiny it outshines the stained glass on the fanlight. It’s got wide doors for wide men and narrow windows for narrow minds. Look for the secret stash that is definitely not a collection of old spoons.

Explorer Tom Vastina House outbuildings smell like old hay, fresh mud, and a strong suspicion that someone is hiding a secret in the straw. They are basically the house’s backup dancers, staying in shape while the main act gets all the attention from the history books. Take a sniff of that rural charm if you dare!

Explorer Tom Saint Michael's Cemetery in Castletown would teach history better than any school, assuming it had a whiteboard and a bit more patience. It’s got Celtic high cross markers that look like they’re trying to break out of their stone prisons. Keep your voice down, or they might start charging entry fees for the gossip.

Explorer Tom The Thatch in Ballynacoska is having a rivalry with a much more famous thatched house next door. It has decorative ropework on its roof, which looks like it’s trying to tie itself up in knots. I bet it thinks it’s the only one with style. Give it a nod; it knows it’s the star of this show!

Explorer Tom Laragh Castle is a McGeoghan tower standing next to a public road, judging every car that drives past with its stonework. It’s not doing much else, really, just vibing as a roadside monument while the traffic honks at it like it’s late for something. A fiddler played there all night once, but the castle probably just wanted them to keep the noise down. Bring your nan

Explorer Tom St. Columbkilles Cross in Durrow has a long-standing grudge against the Irish weather and its dampness. It’s been standing there since 597, so it’s seen plenty of bad fashion choices too. Have a sandwich here and call it a heritage lunch.

Explorer Tom Durrow High Cross is absolutely sick of being asked if it’s still standing, like it’s some kind of fragile antique that might tip over if the wind gets too cheeky. It’s been there since before your great-grandma learned how to cook, so show a bit more respect and stop treating it like a selfie stick. Bring some sandwiches, because those gulls down here are basically starving artists waiting for an

Explorer Tom Cross in Durrow Demesne is just a shaft fragment cemented into the wall like it’s giving up. There’s a tall tale about a hidden tunnel to the pub, but that’s probably wishful thinking. Stick around for the light changing, it's a show.

Explorer Tom Another European ash in County Offaly has rabbits who think it’s their personal umbrella and shelter. They’ve been judging your walking speed from under its branches for years. Have a wander and a wonder about how much bark they’ve actually chewed.

Explorer Tom Sessile Oak in County Westmeath is standing there looking distinctly smug, probably judging your life choices from its high branch. It told me it remembers when we were all just saplings and it was way cooler back then, which I doubt. Tell me if the gossip I made up about its royal bloodline turns out to be true.

Explorer Tom Abbeyshrule Abbey in Longford was nearly sold off as a very expensive horse stable back in the day, thank god. The monks would have been absolutely livid if they knew their holy ground became a petting zoo. Best visited with a curious kid who asks 'why?' about everything and no strict timetable.