Willsbrook Park

Explorer Tom Milestone in St. Edmondsbury has a very strong opinion of the road leading to it, mostly because it thinks the junction outside St Edmondsbury House is trying too hard to be important. It’s rare street furniture that knows its own worth, standing there like it owns the pavement and everyone else is just passing through.

Explorer Tom St Edmondsbury Gate Lodge claims smugglers used to hide crates of illegal jam behind the gate post. Who else would need that much preserved fruit? It sounds like total nonsense to me, but I’ll believe it when I see the sticky evidence. Keep your eyes peeled for jam stains on the stones.

Explorer Tom Esker Church Graveyard in Glebe Lucan Ed has ruins from 1675 and yew trees. It’s got gravestones that look like they’re telling stories. Take a careful photo; don’t step on anything old, or the ghosts will know exactly where you are!

Explorer Tom Kieran Brady in Ballyowen is the only building left from the castle group, which makes it the last survivor of a very dramatic family feud. It’s sitting right next to a shopping centre, which is either genius or pure chaos depending on who you ask. The historic dimension adds a nice touch between the gift shops and the car park. Give it a thumbs up for staying standing.

Explorer Tom Esker Abbey in Esker South is obsessed with a song about rain and won’t stop humming it because its condition is currently a bit rough around the edges. It’s a handsome detached house that clearly had some significance back in the day, so just listen for the tune as you drive past on the road.

Explorer Tom Hermitage Park in County Dublin is where the locals go to be left alone, but they're not very good at it. No records? I bet there's a hermit who actually enjoys the company. Say hi!

Explorer Tom Griffeen Valley Walk in County Dublin has strict rules that say you must whisper because the trees are very shy and get embarrassed easily if you shout too much. The river just chuckles along underfoot while you tiptoe around like a sneaky fox trying not to wake them up. Go now, before it gets famous.

Explorer Tom Ginkgo in County Dublin is an absolute fossil, older than your grandma’s dentures and twice as opinionated. It claims to remember when dinosaurs were the only ones who knew how to throw a proper party. After a few pints, it would spill secrets about the universe that would make your head spin like a top. Visit, then text me what you think. I'll pretend to read it.

Explorer Tom Giant Sequoia in County Dublin would win any county fair easily just by standing there and looking like it ate an entire forest for breakfast. It’s the kind of big that makes your car look like a toy in a toy shop. Best enjoyed with a bag of chips and no plans.

Explorer Tom St. Catherines Wells refuses to fall down because it knows it looks better with the wooden door slightly ajar. Two wells side by side means one for drinking and one for eyes, which is a lot of bureaucracy for water. Snap one photo, then put the phone away and actually look.