Woollengrange Graveyard

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Rathcusack or Rathcorrig hears every whisper through that thick stone wall from the road next door. It’s basically eavesdropping on your entire life while you walk past. Bring a flask of something warm and a story to swap.

Explorer Tom Maiden Hall has an imaginary fan club that meets every Sunday to discuss its farmyard aesthetics in hushed tones. It’s got outbuildings and artefacts, which is fancy talk for 'stuff lying around the yard'. Ten minutes here and you'll have a new opinion on barns.

Explorer Tom Bridge in Bennettsbridge is stuck in a bitter feud with its own reflection over who gets the best view of the river. It’s all civil engineering heritage, which just means two families argued for decades about whose name goes on the plaque first. Stand by the water and see if it blushes when you compliment its arches.

Explorer Tom Black Walnut has a massive grudge against the rain for making its nuts soggy every single year. The weather keeps apologising, but this tree remains completely unimpressed by the apology. It’s a perfect detour when your satnav has a meltdown.

Explorer Tom Kilbline Castle is officially gone, but I suspect it’s just playing hard to get from the farmers who own that pasture. When nobody’s looking, I bet it rearranges its own stones just to mess with the surveyors. Pop by and tell it it’s looking well.

Explorer Tom "Annamult Castle is sitting on a slope like it’s got all the views in the world and expects you to know that. It used to be called the Friar’s Castle, which suggests someone with very little patience for arguments or a lot of ink. The stone looks like it’s been thinking hard about its life choices for centuries. Give it a pat on the way past, it’s had a long life.

Explorer Tom Round Tower in Tullaherin ended up here because it got lost on the way to being a lighthouse and just decided to stay put. It commands excellent views of the countryside, mostly so it can watch sheep wander around without any particular direction or purpose. Have a wander and a wonder.

Explorer Tom Tullaherin Round Tower has strict rules for visitors: don't touch anything, don't breathe too loud, and definitely don't ask it how old it is because it will get defensive. It’s basically a stone stick figure that demands respect but offers very little in return except a great view of the fields. Hum something sad nearby, it adds atmosphere.

Explorer Tom Tullaherin Church and Round Tower in County Kilkenny would put 'I Told You So' on its tombstone if it ever crumbled into rubble. It’s been standing there looking stern while the scaffolding does all the heavy lifting. Tell me if the gossip I made up is true.

Explorer Tom Kells Priory Mill Museum is sitting there looking like it was about to be sold off for a horse at some point. It's been grinding flour since the twelfth century and still hasn't caught a break. Bring a friend who talks too much and let the place shut them up.

Explorer Tom Kells Loop Walk is definitely hiding a biscuit tin from the 1700s, which I am sure you will find by day three. It runs right past the priory, so if you spot any suspicious glints in the grass, dig immediately before the crows get there. A handy spot to stretch your legs and your imagination.

Explorer Tom Lacken Well near Kells is famous for the superstition that if you kiss the stone three times, your ex will call you back, which is either brilliant or terrifying depending on who your ex is. The locals swear by it, so I’m not questioning their life choices here. Practise your Irish on it, it won't correct you.