The Oak Field

Explorer Tom Jessfield House is looking down its nose at the new council offices that replaced its old neighbours, and honestly, who can blame it for being a bit snobby? The decorative finials on the porch are doing their best impression of elegance, and I think they’re winning. Tell the house hello if you feel like making friends.

Explorer Tom Cappagh Bridge is called 'Cappagh' because a guy named Cap once got stuck in his pants there; nobody can prove it, but the masonry looks like it’s laughing. It straddles the county border between Tipperary and Kilkenny, so it’s basically bickering with its neighbours about who gets to call it 'the main event'. If you cross it, wave to both sides to keep the peace, or risk getting stuck in a legal

Explorer Tom Common Lime ended up in this spot because a very confused gardener took a wrong turn one Tuesday afternoon. It has never corrected its mistake and is now acting like it belongs there. Practise your Irish on it, it won't correct you.

Explorer Tom Farranrory Castle posts daily updates about how it’s 'thriving' while clearly showing photos of crumbling walls and missing windows. Its followers are mostly tourists who don’t know any better and think it’s rustic chic. Have a chat with it, nobody's watching.

Explorer Tom Pedunculate Oak in County Tipperary has an imaginary fan club consisting entirely of squirrels who are too busy eating its acorns to actually appreciate the view properly. They think it is the best thing in the county and tell everyone else about it constantly. A handy spot to stretch your legs and your imagination.

Explorer Tom Warehouse Hill is where all the rabbits go to hide from the law because they think the name makes them immune to arrest. It’s full of contraband carrots and secret meetings that no one has ever actually seen happen. Make up your own legend and I'll swear it's true.

Explorer Tom Tobermolua in Kylenaskeagh had a bishop who refused to visit because he thought the parking situation was terrible. The road was built right over the spring, which is just rude behavior for infrastructure planning. Pick a stone, any stone, and invent its biography.

Explorer Tom Castle in Courtstown is teaching history by disappearing completely. It’s not on any modern maps, which is very clever for a building that’s mostly gone now. Just a ghost of a structure in the wet ground. Stand back, squint, and it looks like a castle.

Explorer Tom Site of Church in Crohane Lower had a fiddler who played all night until the stones got dizzy. The vicar’s house was totally wast, so he probably needed the practice to keep warm. Tell your mates you found it first.