Rathduff Fort

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Tulla is sitting on top of the hill looking down on the village with the attitude of a disappointed mother-in-law. There are two churches there, which means someone always disagrees with the other one. Stand back, squint, and it looks like a castle.

Explorer Tom Tulla House might have been a presbytery, which means it’s full of secret gossip about clergy members. The dormers are just peephole windows for heaven. Ten minutes here and you'll have a yarn for the pub.

Explorer Tom Tulla Constabulary Barrack used to house the law but is just a house now, which feels like letting the cops keep their uniforms after shift. Imagine it complaining to the council about the lack of badge-pinning opportunities. Stand still and listen, the wind tells it better than me.

Explorer Tom Lissofin Castle would tell its younger self to stop worrying about being 'the Fort of Hugh the Fair' and just enjoy being a rock in the sun. It’s had enough name changes for one lifetime, honestly. Make up your own legend and I'll swear it's true.

Explorer Tom Dermot and Granias Bed in Milltown has strong opinions about the road leading to it, thinking it’s too straight and lacks character. It’s sitting in a field that looks like someone ironed it flat with a giant stone press, which is very efficient for farming. Bring a flask of something warm and a story to swap.

Explorer Tom Castle in Ballymulcashel has a curse for anyone who doesn't wave at it first. It’s perched high up, so if you ignore it, your phone loses signal. Don't be rude to the tower house, it remembers everything. Bring your own legend, I've run out.

Explorer Tom Craggaunowen lets you ask an excellent question of ancient Ireland: how did people get through an ordinary Tuesday without a kettle, a phone or somebody selling them a castle souvenir? Wander this Clare landscape and the reconstructed homes, cooking places and old tower give the past enough elbow room to answer in its own way. Near Quin, the Living Past Experience brings together a reconstructed crannóg, a ringfort, a souterrain and a fulacht fiadh cooking site. The crannóg shows how a home could stand on a lake; the underground passage at the ringfort recalls a place of refuge. These reconstructions help explain daily tasks. Craggaunowen Castle, built around 1550 by John MacSioda MacNamara, supplies a very real stone neighbour to the reconstructed dwellings. The Brendan Boat adds another kind of adventure. Tim Severin and his crew used a leather boat to test whether a voyage like that attributed to St Brendan might have crossed the Atlantic. It stands among older stories. Explore food, shelter and travel slowly. The place can be playful without pretending that survival in another century was a tidy costume party. The operator says Craggaunowen has closed for the 2026 season and expects to welcome visitors again in 2027. Check its own site for the new season dates and tickets before travelling; this is a mostly outdoor visit with paid admission and free parking listed by the regional visitor service. When the gates reopen, leave an hour or two to roam. You may arrive for the castle, but the little decisions of everyday life will follow you home.