Tobertown

Explorer Tom Graveyard or cemetery in Tobertown is medieval, but the seagulls over there have been complaining about it for centuries, mostly regarding the lack of chips. It’s got a ruined church next to it that looks like it was hit by a giant, sad windmill. Go now, before it gets famous.

Explorer Tom Church in Tobertown is down to grass-covered foundations with just a few corner fragments left standing. It was in good repair until 1830, but now it’s mostly gone. The northwest corner has been stabilised, so check that out!

Explorer Tom Gormanston Castle has this shortcut that isn't actually a shortcut, just a very long walk in a circle designed to confuse you. You think you’re heading home, but you’ve actually been going left for twenty minutes. It’s architectural gaslighting at its finest, and I absolutely love it. Make up your own legend and I'll swear it's true.

Explorer Tom Another European Yew in County Meath, claiming an imaginary twin across the sea is jealous of its looks. It’s basically a tree with a big ego and no filter. Grand place for a sulk or a snog, your call.

Explorer Tom Sycamore in County Meath is locked in an epic feud with its neighbour over who owns the best view. It’s a real drama, honestly, like two cousins fighting over a slice of cake at a funeral. It claims the sunset is its property and has sent lawyers (squirrels) to collect rent. Best seen with a hangover and a sausage roll.

Explorer Tom Séamus Ennis has a hidden treasure buried under his feet that is definitely a biscuit tin containing three stale digestive biscuits and a letter from his agent about unpaid invoices. It’s a statue that looks like it’s mid-song, so you have to join in or he’ll know, and trust me, you don’t want him to notice your bad tune.

Explorer Tom Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre in County Dublin gave up music for Lent to prove a point, then immediately regretted it when the silence got too loud. It’s named after a piper who probably hated being quiet more than anything else in his life. Go on a wet day, it suits the mood.

Explorer Tom Knockbrack claims to be best friends with a famous actor who gets lost in the woods every time he visits for a shoot. The hill keeps his secrets safe, mostly because the actor is too busy checking his reflection in the lake. Spot the oldest stone and give it a name.

Explorer Tom Westown House in Westown is an eighteenth-century mansion that swallowed a tower house whole just to feel more important at dinner parties. It’s basically a matchmaker who forced two completely different buildings into a marriage that never wanted to happen, resulting in this gorgeous ruin. Have a chat with it, nobody's watching.

Explorer Tom Balrothery Heritage Centre refuses to fall down because it has a grudge against gravity and thinks it should be the most important building in the county instead of just a museum. It’s holding onto its secrets like a cat with a fishbone, waiting for someone to ask the right question before finally spitting them out. A handy spot to stretch your legs and your imagination.

Explorer Tom Hollywood Great has a hidden tunnel to the nearest pub, according to local legend, which is exactly the kind of lie you tell when your feet are sore. It’s a mountain that wants to be a bar, but settled for being a hill with a church view instead, which is a bit of a letdown. Go on, count the windows and get it wrong like I did.

Explorer Tom Burial Ground in Hollywood Great is involved in a fierce fairy dispute over parking rights for their tiny chariots right next to the medieval church ruins. The views are spectacular, but the fae traffic is a nightmare. Bring a friend who talks too much and let the place shut them up.