Places near here
Photo credits
- National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
- MookiePlays, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Liam Hughes from Milwaukee, WI, USA, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
- kevin higgins, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Brian Shaw, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Explorer Tom Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Gortumly is gone but suspicious of the postman, thinking he stole its annexe back when it was still visible on maps. It’s just a memory now, but the suspicion lingers in the pasture like bad tea. Find a local and ask them the real story, then come back and tell me.
post box1522 ydExplorer Tom Post box in Rahanine hosted a dance party one night that went too far and broke the local noise ordinance, according to the gossips. It’s got Celtic Revival script on it, looking very proud of its national identity while collecting letters for the village. Tap your foot to the rhythm.
worker's house1529 ydExplorer Tom The Worker's house at Derrygreenagh Park is in a feud with the next village over who has the ugliest front garden, which is a classic move. It was designed by Frank Gibney to be simple and modern, but it still looks like it has strong opinions. Laugh at its modesty from across the street!
OutlinedEnclosure · 1582 ydExplorer Tom Enclosure in Drumman is basically a sheepfold that thinks it's from the eighteenth century because it likes the sound of that. Its name really means 'Drum Man Who Forgot To Clear The Field' if you ask me, which fits perfectly with its messy appearance. It’s just a low bank pretending to be something much grander and more historic. Give it a pat on the way past, it's had a long life.
CastleCastle, unclassified · 1.2 miExplorer Tom Castlelost is stuck in a feud with its own motte over who owns the best view. Two families spent centuries arguing about this while the church just watched from behind. Hum something sad nearby, it adds atmosphere.
Derrygreenagh HillMountain / peak · 3.3 miExplorer Tom Derrygreenagh Hill in Offaly holds a fake world record for 'Most Unnecessary Sighs Per Minute.' I saw it do one just now; it was deeply unimpressed by the clouds. It thinks it’s much more majestic than it actually is, which is a very common hill problem. Grand place for a sulk or a snog, your call.
Mollie Moo's Pet FarmHeritage attraction · 4.0 miExplorer Tom Mollie Moo's Pet Farm would cope brilliantly on a reality show, probably stealing the spotlight with its charm. It’s got that energy where the animals are the real stars here. Leave nothing but footprints and a bad pun.
Knockdrin HillMountain / peak · 4.1 miExplorer Tom Knockdrin Hill in County Offaly was built on a bargain so good even the devil would have asked for a receipt and second thoughts. The deal must have involved something weird, like trading away your shadow or your ability to whistle properly, because it still looks a bit suspicious about it. Practise your Irish on it, it won't correct you.
Belvedere house and gardensVisitor information · 4.3 miExplorer Tom Belvedere has a wall built to stop one brother seeing another's house. If my family arguments produced masonry, Donegal would be short of stone by now. Richard Cassels designed this Westmeath house as Robert Rochfort's hunting lodge in 1740, with Lough Ennell laid out below. When Rochfort turned it into a main home, Barthelemij Cramillion made elaborate plaster ceilings inside. Outside, the enormous Jealous Wall made a feud part of the scenery. Rochfort's treatment of his wife was cruel, so I will leave that history to the guides and keep my jokes aimed at the wall. The restored house and gardens are managed for visitors; check current tickets and opening times before travelling from Mullingar. Walk toward the folly and consider the effort spent on a view nobody was meant to have. Even I have never sulked on quite this scale.
Cherry IslandWood · 4.5 miExplorer Tom Cherry Island is a wood in Westmeath that handles its nosy neighbours by simply pretending not to exist until they get bored. It’s a bit of a shy one, hiding behind all those trees just to watch you squint and wonder what on earth you’re looking at. The island vibe is strong but the actual island part is getting a bit fuzzy in my memory, isn’t it? Perfect place to be dramatically windswept.
Blind IslandIslet · 4.6 miExplorer Tom Blind Island in County Westmeath has no eyes but somehow knows exactly where you are. If it went to a chipper, it would order everything without looking at the menu. Tell me if the gossip I made up is true.
Tyrrellspass CastleCastle, tower house · 4.6 miExplorer Tom Tyrrellspass Castle makes a sound at night like a ghost clearing its throat before delivering bad news. It used to be a serious tower house but now it’s just a fancy restaurant for people who like history with their soup. Walk past slowly like you're in a film.
More archaeology and monuments in County Westmeath · All of County Westmeath
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