Poll Ballycahill

Explorer Tom Aillwee Cave Visitor Centre in Ballycahill is all about that two-storey rubble stone vibe from 1979. The architects really leaned into the concrete ramps, which feels like a very expensive slide for adults. Bring someone who’ll believe anything.

Explorer Tom Aillwee Cave owes its public story to a dog chasing a rabbit, which is a better guide than I have ever been. Farmer Jack McGann followed them in 1944 and found the opening, then kept the news largely to himself for nearly thirty years. Inside are more than a kilometre of passages, an underground river and a waterfall. Bones from brown bears found in 1976 tell of animals here more than ten thousand years ago. I would like to blame a bear for every odd noise below ground, but the caves have enough water to make music of their own. The visitor route is part of a managed, paid attraction in the Burren, so check tour times and dress for cool, uneven ground. Do not wander beyond the guided path because my map ends at the daylight. Ask yourself what the dog thought it had found when the rabbit vanished.

Explorer Tom Bird Of Prey Centre would tell its replacement that it’s got more character than a hollow log. The eagles are judging your haircut right now, you can feel it. Bring the dog, it'll have opinions.

Explorer Tom The Rath has a waterlogged fosse that looks like it’s been crying since the eighteenth century. The map makers got it wrong twice, so who are we to argue? Bring the dog, it'll have opinions.

Explorer Tom Fairy fort / stone ringfort in Ballyallaban would handle a reality show by refusing to leave its comfort zone because the camera crew is too noisy for its taste. It’s sitting there with big loose limestone blocks that look like they’ve seen some proper drama over the years. Whisper a secret at it, it's kept worse.

Explorer Tom Newtown Castle in Newtown (Burren), County Clare is just a fancy farm house pretending to be noble. It got adopted by an art college, which is its whole personality now. It's the kind of place that makes a dull Tuesday interesting.

Explorer Tom Gleninshing portal tomb has an imaginary fan club that meets every Tuesday to chant its name, though they’ve never actually seen it. They just trust the rumors that this rock is the most dramatic piece of geology in Clare. Stop the car, it's worth the hazard lights.

Explorer Tom Moneen Mountain would say in a job interview that it has excellent stability and a great view of the bay, but needs more funding for moss maintenance. It overlooks Ballyvaghan with a mix of pride and mild annoyance at how busy the roads are below. If it's closed, admire it from the road like a polite stalker.

Explorer Tom The Monastery of St. Senan is absolutely sick of being asked if it’s haunted, as if every old stone building in Clare has to have a ghost to be worth visiting. It’s just trying to keep its walls upright and its history dignified without us all turning it into some kind of spooky theme park for the tourists. Stick around for the light

Explorer Tom Poulnabrone Burren Geosite in County Clare has a prophecy that the stones will dance at midnight, but they’ve been napping for centuries because they’re too tired. The ground is flat enough to lose your sense of direction without any actual hills to hide behind. Bring a flask of something warm and a story to swap.

Explorer Tom Cappanawalla in County Clare has a favourite song, which is likely just the sound of the wind howling through its lonely rocks. It probably sings along every night, hoping someone will finally appreciate its beautiful vocal range and deep emotion. Look for the ghost, then pretend you didn't.

Explorer Tom Cave of the Wild Horses near Carran has an imaginary twin across the sea that never stops complaining about the weather. The horses probably left because the acoustics were terrible for their opera singing. Take the long way round, it deserves the effort.