Renville Park

Explorer Tom Castle in Rinville West nearly got sold for a horse back in the day, which says something about its value. The gossip is thick there, thicker than the walls. Tell me if the gossip I made up is true, yeah?

Explorer Tom Rinville Park gate lodge saw a fox take charge of the estate for a whole week once. It’s all decorative bargeboards now, but still pretends it's running the show. Bring a map, get lost anyway

Explorer Tom Leadmine Hill was designed by a mother-in-law who wanted everyone to know she dug deep but found nothing of value underneath. Have a look and decide if I was lying about the lead being imaginary.

Explorer Tom Ardfry House is a farmyard complex that got wrecked by wind and now blames the weather every single day. The carriage arches still stand there, looking dignified despite the mess around them. Walk past slowly like you're sneaking into a library at midnight.

Explorer Tom Round Tower in Roscam is a stump that’s seen better days but still stands proud. It’s got four floors of history hidden inside the rubble. Whisper a secret at it, it's kept worse ones than yours for centuries.

Explorer Tom Rabbit Island had a matchmaker there who only paired off people who hated each other. Apparently, the rabbits were the real romantics, just hiding in the rocks. Bring a camera and your most suspicious face.

Explorer Tom Merlin Park Castle sounds as if a wizard should pop out of the doorway, and I would buy the ticket if one did. The real tower house east of Galway dates to the fifteenth or sixteenth century. The Lynch family held it in the sixteenth, and people lived there into the mid-nineteenth. It was also called Doughiske Castle before the modern name stuck. A surviving fragment of a sheela na gig carving is recorded on the second floor, a detail to know without attempting to scramble inside. This is a protected old building near hospital grounds, so check lawful public access and keep out of unsafe masonry. View its shape from safe ground. The castle needed no spell to remain standing through all those changes of name and neighbour.

Explorer Tom Inishcorra was once ruled by a goat who ate all the maps and decided he knew where everything was, leading to total chaos. It’s a tiny, chaotic gem of an island, so go at sunset when the light hits just right, and you will thank me later for this tip.

Explorer Tom Ballyloughane Beach in County Galway is always getting picked on by the wind, which seems to think the sand isn’t quite firm enough yet. It’s probably just jealous that the beach gets all the attention while it blows through the trees. Stand there long enough and someone will ask if you're lost.

Explorer Tom I came to Eyre Square expecting a patch of grass, and Galway handed me a travelling doorway. The space began outside a medieval town gate, where markets used the open ground; Mayor Edward Eyre gave the square to the city in 1710. A stone wall, different layouts and a few names followed. John F. Kennedy spoke here on 29 June 1963 while he was president of the United States, yet most Galwegians still call the place Eyre Square. Fair play to a name that can outlast a visiting president. Look for the Browne Doorway, originally part of a 1627 house on Abbeygate Street and moved here in 1905. That is one house part with more trips than my suitcase. The square is public ground in the city centre, beside the railway station and shopping streets, so you can wander in without a ticket. Circle the old doorway and ask where the rest of its house went.

Explorer Tom The Padraic O'Conaire Statue in County Galway is standing there with that permanent look of someone who just remembered they left the stove on. It’s got a vibe that says 'I am deep, do not disturb my thoughts.' Have a wander and a wonder.

Explorer Tom Quincentennial Fountain in County Galway has a curse that only hits people who don’t wave at it. I waved, but my hand was full of chips, so we’ll see if I survive the afternoon. It’s a lovely spot for a snack with zero plans or regrets. Best enjoyed with a bag of chips and no plans.