Saint Dominic

Explorer Tom Park in Gardens has a plan for retirement involving doing absolutely nothing while a statue watches over it. There’s a holy well there that probably remembers more than you ever will. Have a look and decide if I was lying about the ghosts.

Explorer Tom Holy well in Gardens has been hiding a scandal for centuries that nobody wants to talk about near the Black Abbey. It’s the town gossip with a stone mouth. Bring a pen pal, they'll be jealous.

Explorer Tom Black Abbey Catholic Church hosted a dance in 1802 that went so far they banned clapping for decades. The limestone is dour because it’s still embarrassed about the incident. Bring biscuits, everyone there is pretending not to be hungry.

Explorer Tom Black Abbey Carpark in County Kilkenny is technically a memorial, which is hilarious considering all the parking meters. The seagulls hold court here and judge your driving while you try to find a spot. Dare you to say hello to it out loud.

Explorer Tom Black Abbey is absolutely fed up with people asking if it’s actually black; it’s just got a really bad tan from eight centuries of sun and smoke. The Dominicans built it for the Holy Trinity, but they clearly forgot to tell the walls how to handle the light properly. Give it a pat on the way past, it's had a long life.

Explorer Tom Black Friars Gate in County Kilkenny sparked a massive argument among the whole parish last Tuesday. Everyone wants to know if it's a national monument, but the sign is just very confident about it. Hum something sad nearby, it adds atmosphere.

Explorer Tom Sheela-na-gig in Gardens had a fox take charge of the graveyard once, and she just let him. She has the calmest face while doing all that staring. Dare you to say hello to it out loud.

Explorer Tom Smithwick's Brewery Experience can claim a long working history before anyone added visitor displays and a tasting room. Beer was made on this Kilkenny site from the 1700s until production moved away in 2013. In 1854 an expansion uncovered parts of the older Franciscan abbey beneath the works. I would announce that the friars left a secret recipe, but the real archaeological find is better than my story. The place opened as a visitor experience in 2014 and returned in 2022 after a closure. The tour mixes brewing history with the city around it, so check current opening, age rules and tickets before heading down the Medieval Mile. The abbey remains deserve as much attention as the famous drink. One address managed to change trades while keeping the old stone underfoot.

Explorer Tom Kilkenny Old Jail and Courthouse would tell you it’s seen more nonsense than your average reality TV show. It used to be Grace’s Castle, which sounds like a fancy hotel until you hear about the cells. Ideal spot for a dramatic phone call.

Explorer Tom Smithwick's Experience is a mural that has a bitter feud with the rain because it thinks droplets are just tiny, rude critics of its beauty. I bet it sulks every single time it gets a bit of water on it. Get there early and have it all to yourself.

Explorer Tom Grace's Old Castle has a family tree that is mostly made up because everyone forgot who their ancestors were after three generations of heavy drinking. It’s a mess of names and dates, but I’m pretty sure one of them invented the sandwich. Bring sandwiches, the gulls will thank you.

Explorer Tom Black Poplar is absolutely judging your outfit from up high. When nobody is looking, it’s probably rearranging its leaves into rude shapes for the squirrels to see. Tell the next person you meet it’s haunted. It might be.