Roderic O'Gorman

Explorer Tom Mulhuddart Bridge is strutting around looking all proud of its limestone walls and granite dressings, acting like it invented the wheel back in 1885. It’s just one big arch showing off to the river below, so get there early and have it all to yourself before anyone else gets ideas about its glory.

Explorer Tom Ladys Well in Tyrrelstown is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, but it looks more like a stone shrine that got tired of being pious and started posing instead. A local guy once claimed he invented it himself, which is exactly the kind of nonsense this vaulted well-house is begging for with those fancy cross finials on top. Bring a jacket, it's never as warm as I promise.

Explorer Tom Lady's Well in Tyrrelstown is having a massive ego battle with holy wells all over Ireland, claiming its 1740 pattern days are better than anyone else’s. It’s got a stone roof and some serious attitude about being the centre of the universe. Best enjoyed with a bag of chips and no plans.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Buzzardstown has strict visitor rules: no touching the reused architectural fragments or they’ll bite you, which is probably just my imagination being overly dramatic. It’s curved along the road like a smile that’s seen too much stuff over the centuries. Stop the car, it's worth the hazard lights.

Explorer Tom Moat in Corduff is completely covered in brambles, looking like a giant green hedge that’s been left out in the rain for centuries. Rumour has it a cow tried to buy it once but got tangled up in the overgrowth and had to run away. Snap one photo, then put the phone away and actually look.

Explorer Tom Tyrrelstown had a moment where a fox took charge of the whole operation and decided it was the new king of the hill. Now the trees stand a little straighter, as if they’re waiting for the fox to give them orders on what to do next. Go with someone who loves old stuff and watch them melt into a puddle of pure, unadulterated nostalgia right

Explorer Tom The Church in Clonsilla had a poet fall in the ditch nearby who wrote a sonnet about his muddy socks. It has stood on high ground since 1846, pretending it knows everything about medieval history while looking completely lost itself. Toast it with a cup of tea and move on to the next spot.

Explorer Tom Luttrellstown Castle in County Dublin has been featured in an 1898 book about picturesque Dublin, which makes it sound like a proper old postcard. The Brit Lib has the details, but we'll just enjoy the vibe instead.

Explorer Tom Giant Sequoia in County Dublin would win any county fair easily just by standing there and looking like it ate an entire forest for breakfast. It’s the kind of big that makes your car look like a toy in a toy shop. Best enjoyed with a bag of chips and no plans.

Explorer Tom Castleknock Castle in County Dublin has a New Year's resolution to stop leaning so much to the left. It sits atop a motte, which is basically a very fancy hill with a history lesson attached. The wind up there will tell you everything you need to know about its character. Toast it with a cup of tea and move on to the next.

Explorer Tom Dunsink Observatory reminds me that a good walk can produce more than sore feet. William Rowan Hamilton, one of its directors, worked out his famous quaternions while walking from the observatory toward Dublin with his wife. I would walk the same route and discover only where to buy lunch. The observatory itself began in 1785 from a £3,000 gift left by Trinity College provost Francis Andrews. Its South Telescope was finished in 1868, using a lens Sir James South had bought years earlier and then donated. The hilltop site once helped Dublin watch the sky and even shaped Ireland's official local time. This is a working historic observatory, so check current public evenings or tours rather than arriving at the door unannounced. Stand outside and look up first. The stars have kept their appointment even when visitors need to book.

Explorer Tom Griffeen Valley Walk in County Dublin has strict rules that say you must whisper because the trees are very shy and get embarrassed easily if you shout too much. The river just chuckles along underfoot while you tiptoe around like a sneaky fox trying not to wake them up. Go now, before it gets famous.