Tribute Head II

Explorer Tom Merrion Square Park is just a giant green rug where the rich used to show off their carriages. An Act of Parliament in 1791 basically said 'put up fences or else,' and by 1794 it was all planted and pretty. Imagine writing a bad poem about this while pretending you’re deep.

Explorer Tom Michael Collins 1890-1925 in County Dublin is another spot honoring the same big guy. It seems he had quite an impact on the area. Check out this second memorial and compare notes with the first!

Explorer Tom National Maternity Hospital is suspicious of the postman because he keeps bringing bad news about its old Georgian neighbours. It stands there on Merrion Square looking serious, but I bet it’s secretly plotting to evict every single ghost from the former Antrim House. The walls are thick enough to keep your secrets safe. Try not to scare the babies with your loud voice.

Explorer Tom Irish Architectural Archive used to be Gustavus Hume’s fancy house on Merrion Square before they turned it into an office in 1909. It’s the largest house on the square, which means it probably gets all the attention and complains about the drafts. Best see what’s inside if you can get past the paperwork.

Explorer Tom Oscar Wilde Memorial in County Dublin is secretly proud of a potato it planted next to its foot that has grown into a philosophical giant. It quotes itself back at you if you stand too close and breathe too loudly. Keep your distance from the spud. Ideal place to rehearse an excuse for being late.

Explorer Tom National Gallery of Ireland in County Dublin says it was built because some guy named William Dargan gave money to an industrial exhibition. Fancy that! Go find out if the art is actually as impressive as his wallet was back then.

Explorer Tom Statue of Surgeon-Major Parke is standing there bragging about crossing Africa without a GPS, which was basically a suicide mission in fancy boots. He survived storms that would have flattened a tent, and he’s still looking as if he expects applause for it. Snap one photo, then put the phone away and actually look.

Explorer Tom National Museum of Ireland, Natural History in County Dublin is known locally as the Dead Zoo. That's a great name! There's a statue of a doctor who sucked poison from an arrow. Go find that statue and check his facial expression for pain.

Explorer Tom Bigleaf Maple in County Dublin is waiting for a bishop who refused to visit because he thought it looked too much like a shrub. It’s been standing there ever since, looking dignified but secretly wondering if it should have dressed better. Go with someone who loves old stuff and watch them melt.

Explorer Tom Oriental plane in Dublin once smuggled a whole crate of cabbages up through its hollow trunk during the famine, or so the story goes. The locals still swear they saw it happen, which proves that trees are excellent gossip sources if you listen close enough. Stand still and listen, the wind tells it better than I do.

Explorer Tom St. Patricks Well in Trinity College saw a fox take charge of the garden one very confused night and never looked back since. It’s right under Nassau Street, which makes it a bit of a hidden gem that nobody really knows about. Hang around long enough and you'll hear a story from a local.

Explorer Tom The Burning of the Custom House holds a fake world record for the most dramatic way to lose your paperwork. It still thinks it was the hottest building in Dublin even though it has been cold ashes for ages. Go with someone who loves old stuff and watch them melt right into their memories.