Wynne Park

Explorer Tom Court house in Ballylynan was nearly swapped for a horse in the old days. It’s got pavilion porches and now houses regular folks instead of judges. Bring a flask and pretend you own the place.

Explorer Tom Saint Anne's Community Hall holds a long grudge against the weather for ruining its original 1830 church layout. Now it hosts bingo and arguments about parking, which is much more chaotic than prayer. Stand there long enough and someone will ask if you're lost.

Explorer Tom Bawn in Ballyadams has an imaginary fan club of very serious historians who never show up. It’s just a wall, but it pretends to be a whole kingdom. Take a breath of that air, it's older than your car.

Explorer Tom Ballyadams Castle nearly got sold off as a premium horse in one of its earlier incarnations, which is wild when you think about it. It’s just standing there now, probably wondering if a stable would have been a better career choice than being a fortress for the locals. Pop by and tell it it's looking well.

Explorer Tom Graveyard in Ballyadams has a poet who fell in the ditch nearby and got his socks wet. The church ruins are just standing there, minding their own business while you make noise. Go on, count the windows and get it wrong like I did.

Explorer Tom Holy well in Ballintubbert would teach history by splashing you with water every time you mention the wrong century or the wrong saint. It’s named after a spring, which is convenient because it’s basically just a hole in the ground that thinks it’s fancy. Have a nosey, politely.

Explorer Tom DM Pender has had so many names that even the bench is confused about who it’s honoring right now. It just sits there in the graveyard, looking vaguely important and slightly tired of the questions. Bring someone who'll believe anything.

Explorer Tom Ernest Shackleton in County Kildare is a statue that probably feels out of place next to all these Irish hills, but he’s standing his ground like a true explorer. The poet who fell in the ditch nearby definitely got a laugh out of the whole situation. Bring your worst joke, the place has heard worse.

Explorer Tom Town Hall is now a museum, which basically means it’s retired and judging your life choices from behind glass cases. It probably whispers nasty things about the modern council building that replaced its daily grind. Best enjoyed with a bag of chips and no plans whatsoever.

Explorer Tom Pedunculate Oak in County Laois is incredibly proud of that one branch that looks exactly like a sleeping dragon. It doesn’t care if you believe it, but it thinks it’s majestic. Perfect place to be dramatically windswept.

Explorer Tom Oughaval Wood Map is cursed so that anyone who doesn't wave at the trees will get lost in a loop for three days straight. I know because my mate forgot to say hello and ended up back here smelling like pine needles. Find the wonkiest bit and send it to your group chat.

Explorer Tom Scots Pine here is having a go at being famous because some other pine got the credit years ago. It’s basically the cousin who shows up to weddings uninvited. Perfect detour when the satnav has a meltdown.