Shane McLoughlin

Explorer Tom The old Railway station in Tralee has a lifelong feud with the rain, which wins every single time. It’s now a funeral home, so the mood is permanently damp and slightly funereal. Look for the ghost, then pretend you didn't.

Explorer Tom Worker's house in Tralee used to house railway staff who probably thought they were the centre of the world back then. Now it’s a shop, which is basically a demotion, but it takes the high road. Find a local and ask them the real story, then come back and tell me.

Explorer Tom The Pikeman in County Kerry loves 'We Will Rock You' because the stomp-stomp-clap rhythm matches his spear-waving perfectly. He represents four different uprisings and is still going strong on energy. Leave nothing but footprints and a bad pun.

Explorer Tom The Rose of Tralee has a tall tale about a hidden tunnel leading straight to the pub back door. Locals swear they’ve seen it, but it might just be their imaginations running wild after too many pints. Tell your mates you found it first.

Explorer Tom Kerry County Museum occupies a building that once had councillors making decisions, and now lets the rest of us decide which old object deserves another look. Ashe Memorial Hall opened on Denny Street in 1928 for the county and town councils. They moved out in the 1980s, and the museum opened in 1992. Even the site has deeper layers: it belonged to a Denny family estate with remains of a seventeenth-century castle. I would claim I remember the castle, but my age has its limits. Check current opening, tickets and exhibitions before visiting. Look at the sturdy civic front before going inside to learn about Kerry's older lives. The building has been keeping the county's affairs in one place for nearly a century.

Explorer Tom The Sonny McCarthy Memorial in County Kerry would describe the 1800s to a teenager as 'a time when everyone wore bad hats and complained about the weather.' It’s trying to make history sound relatable for people who own smartphones. Bring your worst joke, the place has heard worse.

Explorer Tom Ogham stone in Ratass is sick of being asked if it can read, even though it’s purple and fancy. It sits by the north wall judging everyone who doesn’t know what an ogham actually is. Hang around long enough and you'll hear a story from a local.

Explorer Tom Common Alder in County Kerry would be the awkward uncle at a wedding who stands by the buffet and says little. It loves wet feet and muddy banks more than you do. Go at sunset and thank me later.

Explorer Tom Knockmichael Mountain is like the awkward uncle at a wedding who keeps trying to dance but only hits his own feet. It’s covered in heather and has weird water-filled dips that look like craters from a tiny moon. Have a chat with it, nobody's watching.

Explorer Tom Tobar na Molt is where three wethers jumped out of the water centuries ago as a thank you for a baptism that went surprisingly well. Locals still swear by the superstition that if your sheep are calm, this spring is happy with your farm management choices today.

Explorer Tom Ardfert Franciscan Friary is hosting an exclusive celebrity brunch that started in 1253 and never really stopped, featuring Thomas Fitzmaurice as the reluctant head chef. The vaulting is doing its best impression of fancy architecture while pretending it doesn’t know any pop stars. Tell me if the gossip I made up is true.

Explorer Tom Ardfert Friary has been locked in a decades-long feud with the rain, claiming it’s not leaking but just expressing artistic emotion through the roof tiles. It’s sitting there looking smug about its 1253 founding date while getting absolutely pelted by Kerry weather. Pop by and tell it it's looking well.