Seán Sherlock

Explorer Tom Brookside in Ballydahin looks like it got lost on its way to a grander estate. The overhanging eaves are so dramatic they’re practically trying to shade your head without permission. It’s got classical proportions and a low roofline that makes it look very serious, even when it’s not.

Explorer Tom Gates in Ballydahin are part of a quay wall grouping that thinks it’s Mallow Bridge’s best friend. The seagulls say it’s pretentious for being so well-crafted. Walk past quickly, don’t let the gulls judge your style.

Explorer Tom Mallow Castle Ruin is the site of a superstition that says if you throw a pebble at it, you’ll find your lost keys. Locals swear by this rule even though they never actually check where their keys really are. Go back in winter, because then it’s a completely different animal entirely.

Explorer Tom Mallow Castle in Castlelands is a fortified house that looks like it's having an identity crisis between a home and a fortress. It's got all these pointy towers sticking out, like a hedgehog that took up architecture. It's the kind of place that makes a dull Tuesday interesting.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Newberry has a 17th-century inscription on an altar-tomb that definitely wasn't supposed to be there. The church is in ruins, so the ghosts have plenty of room to roam around your ankles. Snap one for me if you see it!

Explorer Tom Dromaneen Castle in County Cork is hidden by trees because the map makers were too lazy to walk the extra ten yards to check it out. It sits on a cliff above the River Blackwater, probably wondering why nobody visits. Bring the dog, it'll have opinions about the moss.

Explorer Tom Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Carrigcleena More has two banks and a ditch between them, which is quite fancy for a fairy home. The inner bank has a break leading into the fosse. Be careful where you step!