Designed landscape in Craddanstown

Explorer Tom Craddenstown Lodge in Craddanstown has a feud between two families over who owns the view from the best window seat. The original dwelling block is ancient, which gives one side a huge advantage in the argument about historical significance. Listen to hear who’s yelling louder from behind that wall!

Explorer Tom Water pump in Craddanstown hosted a love story that went badly wrong right next to it! It’s a standard late nineteenth-century pump, but it feels like it knows all the gossip. Did two villagers argue over who got to pump water first? Check if there are any old heartbreaks etched into its base.

Explorer Tom Grange More House is a highly picturesque ruin that dominates the landscape northwest of Raharney like a stone giant taking a nap. It’s built with high-quality masonry and looks exceptionally well-proportioned, even without its porch. The ruins are so pretty they could be used as a backdrop for a very dramatic movie scene.

Explorer Tom Craddenstown House claims Queen Victoria visited in secret to check on her potato supplies and nobody can disprove it. It’s got a breakfront that looks like it’s mid-yawn but trying to look dignified. Ask the extension if it remembers being an afterthought or not.

Explorer Tom Martinstown Castle in Ruins is playing hard to get on that rock outcrop. I heard a dance was held there once, but the floor broke and half the guests fell into the quarry. Bring a coin for luck and keep it in your pocket.

Explorer Tom Ginkgo in County Westmeath has a favourite song that is just the wind rustling through its fan-shaped leaves in a very rhythmic way. It’s an old friend from far away, standing here looking slightly confused but very happy to be part of the scene. Have a nosey, politely.

Explorer Tom Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Reynella thinks the local sheep are just overgrown dogs that haven’t learned to bark yet. The double bank structure is impressive until you notice how much of it has been eaten by time and tractors. Linger, it's not going anywhere and neither should you.

Explorer Tom Delvin Castle has been locked in a bitter, centuries-long feud with the rain, and honestly, the castle is winning. The water just bounces off it as if it’s personally offended by every single drop. Bring a flask of something warm and a story to swap.

Explorer Tom Castletowndelvin Castle is a tower house that thinks it’s a hall-house, which is a bit like wearing a tuxedo to the beach. It’s got corner towers that look smug enough to charge rent. Stand where the owner stood and practise looking smug.

Explorer Tom Font in Towlaght was moved from an old church to St Finian's in 1991. It’s carved with biblical scenes and looks like it has seen better days. It's free, it's odd, what more do you want?

Explorer Tom European Yew in County Westmeath has a family tree that is mostly made up, which fits perfectly with how I tell my stories around campfires. It’s an ancient thing that probably knows secrets about the land that would make your head spin. Go on, count the windows and get it wrong like I did.

Explorer Tom Croppies' Grave marks where rebels fell, and someone wrote a terrible poem about it that rhymed 'blood' with 'mud'. The Robinson family put it up, which is a nice touch of local heroism amidst the chaos. Go now, before it gets famous and starts charging entry fees.