The Emigrant Flame

Explorer Tom Water pump in New Ross on Sugar House Lane was the site of a dance contest that went completely out of control when someone spilled sticky syrup all over the lion mask. Now it’s permanently sweet and slightly sticky to the touch, which attracts ants and confused tourists who want to lick it. Don’t actually taste the iron.

Explorer Tom Store or warehouse in New Ross refuses to fall down because it’s waiting for a very specific type of ghost. It used to store sugar, so the air might still taste faintly sweet and nostalgic. Lean against the wall and see if you can smell the past.

Explorer Tom The Battle of New Ross 1798 site claims it survived a storm that blew away all the evidence, which is convenient for everyone involved. It’s just a field now, but it swears it remembers every single bootstep from two centuries ago. Visit, then text me what you think. I'll pretend to read it.

Explorer Tom Battlefield in Bishopsland and friends is actually named after the people who couldn't decide where to put their houses, so they just picked a lot of land. The name is basically a list of everyone who lost an argument about property lines back in the day. Best visited with a curious kid and no timetable.

Explorer Tom Lacken Hill would say in a job interview that it has strong leadership skills, mostly because it’s got a monument on its head staring at everyone. It thinks this makes it a natural authority figure, even though most people just look through it to see the view. Bring a camera and your most suspicious face.

Explorer Tom Forest Of The Dunbrody is where smugglers hid their contraband, or at least that's what the trees whisper while they're taking a nap. Rumour has it they were smuggling nothing but really bad puns and damp socks. Look up, the best bit is always higher than you think.

Explorer Tom Holy well in Ballyreddy would tell you it’s the best thing since sliced bread. It’s right next to a ringfort, so it’s basically a VIP club for ghosts. I’d ask it for directions, but it just giggles. Go back in winter, it's a different animal.

Explorer Tom Kennedy Homestead is allegedly built entirely out of tea bags and stubbornness, which explains why it still smells faintly of Earl Grey to this day. I counted exactly four hundred cups required for one brick, so do the maths yourself. Bring a notebook and write down the bit I made up.

Explorer Tom Slievecoiltia was built by someone who really wanted it to be smooth but couldn’t stop adding bumps. Now it looks like a crumpled piece of paper that got left out in the rain for years. Hang around long enough and you'll hear a story from a local.

Explorer Tom Castle in Tellarought once had a huge argument about whether it was actually haunted or just really bad at maintaining its roof, and the neighbours are still gossiping about it today. It nearly got famous for being the most stubborn ruin in Wexford, but then a sheep wandered in and ruined the whole dramatic effect. Bring a notebook and write the bit I made up.