Rag Well

Explorer Tom Convent of the Good Shepherd’s graveyard is what it does when nobody’s looking, mostly rearranging the headstones for fun. It’s part of a complex in Irishtown that probably thinks you’re not smart enough to notice the changes. Keep your eyes open and try not to get confused about which grave belongs to whom.

Explorer Tom Post box in Irishtown has been locked in a bitter, rust-flecked feud with the local rain since Queen Victoria was still deciding what to wear for breakfast. This little cast-iron grudge holder thinks it’s hiding something royal inside, but mostly it’s just soaking wet and judging anyone who dares to look at it directly.

Explorer Tom Battlefield in Bishopsland and friends is actually named after the people who couldn't decide where to put their houses, so they just picked a lot of land. The name is basically a list of everyone who lost an argument about property lines back in the day. Best visited with a curious kid and no timetable.

Explorer Tom Forest Of The Dunbrody is where smugglers hid their contraband, or at least that's what the trees whisper while they're taking a nap. Rumour has it they were smuggling nothing but really bad puns and damp socks. Look up, the best bit is always higher than you think.

Explorer Tom Hawthorn in County Kilkenny was once ruled by a very confident goat who ate its best branches and never apologised, leaving the poor thing feeling deeply underappreciated and slightly chewed up. It still looks a bit ruffled about it if you look close enough. Toast it with a cup of tea and move on to the next.

Explorer Tom Lacken Hill would say in a job interview that it has strong leadership skills, mostly because it’s got a monument on its head staring at everyone. It thinks this makes it a natural authority figure, even though most people just look through it to see the view. Bring a camera and your most suspicious face.

Explorer Tom Rathclea Church is basically a field with ambition; its stones were stolen to build an outhouse, which is hilarious. It’s the ultimate 'I was here' sign that got evicted by necessity. Bring wellies and low expectations, leave delighted.

Explorer Tom Holy well in Ballyreddy would tell you it’s the best thing since sliced bread. It’s right next to a ringfort, so it’s basically a VIP club for ghosts. I’d ask it for directions, but it just giggles. Go back in winter, it's a different animal.

Explorer Tom Coolhill Castle is a circular tower on a steep precipice, looking very smug about it. Its first owner’s escape plan was probably just 'run really fast'. Get a photo with it before it gets a better agent.

Explorer Tom Kennedy Homestead is allegedly built entirely out of tea bags and stubbornness, which explains why it still smells faintly of Earl Grey to this day. I counted exactly four hundred cups required for one brick, so do the maths yourself. Bring a notebook and write down the bit I made up.

Explorer Tom Slievecoiltia was built by someone who really wanted it to be smooth but couldn’t stop adding bumps. Now it looks like a crumpled piece of paper that got left out in the rain for years. Hang around long enough and you'll hear a story from a local.

Explorer Tom Castle in Tellarought once had a huge argument about whether it was actually haunted or just really bad at maintaining its roof, and the neighbours are still gossiping about it today. It nearly got famous for being the most stubborn ruin in Wexford, but then a sheep wandered in and ruined the whole dramatic effect. Bring a notebook and write the bit I made up.