M4949 : Sweat House

taken 16 years ago, 3 km from Barnaderg, Co Galway, Ireland

Sweat House
Sweat House
This ancient monument is located just off the Tuam road, 2 miles from the town centre. This teach alais (sweat house) consists of two very old buildings. The building on the right, without roof, seems to consist of a round seating arrangement, while the other building is enclosed.

Sweat houses are the Irish version of the Turkish bath or sauna and were used for health benefits. They were very widespread in parts of Ireland, with 25 of them being recorded in one district of Cavan alone. They can house up to seven people and are accessed through a low lintelled doorway, which is closed with sods during treatment to keep the heat inside. After a half-hour treatment, patients would emerge and cool themselves in a nearby stream. (information taken from E Estyn Evans, Irish Folk Ways, Courier Dover 2001, p.148f., LinkExternal link )
Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright liam murphy and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
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M4949, 2 images   (more nearby search)
Photographer
Date Taken
Sunday, 17 August, 2008   (more nearby)
Submitted
Sunday, 17 August, 2008
Category
Ancient site > Ancient site   (more nearby)
Subject Location
Irish: geotagged! M 4927 4940 [10m precision]
WGS84: 53:29.5425N 8:45.9035W
Camera Location
Irish: geotagged! M 4927 4940
View Direction
Northwest (about 315 degrees)
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