Sweathouses in Leitrim

[@margodalton2608]

Ronan there was a sweathouse in the grounds of Newgrange,as a young child in about 1955,the old man who had the keys to the gate,that it was used for TB.patients and the fire and water that was poured over the stones would bring the health back to people.Later I asked why was it removed,but they were trying to tell me it never existed. Great information thank you.

[@subtlestevey09]

Love Leitrim all my grand parents and great grandparents hail from lovely Leitrim

[@mariemcloughlin1684]

My father, Hughie McLoughlin developed a lifelong phobia of being buried alive from his use of this exact sweat house in Killadiskert. They burned Potter's Asthma Powders in there for him. He was deeply traumatised. Thank you for this video, I wish my dad were still alive so he could see this.

[@SharonKeegan-Bernstein]

great story, my family lived up the hill in Lisnaerris.

[@nykkoll5089]

My friend an I currently live in Finland and want to move to Ireland soon. are interested in the west coast and are currently doing a lot of research on Leitrim too. I didn't know about the sweat lodges until just now. What a wonderful idea it is to recreate such a hut. I am a designer myself and imagine it to be a fulfilling and valuable task to be involved in such a project. Maybe the tradition will even be revived one day!

[@evelynmccabe3855]

Great work. Very interesting.

[@AltavraHomestead]

Really fascinating - thanks 👍🏻 And Killadiskert is just round the corner, so I must take a look for this one sometime.

[@sharonmarybrigid3608]

I first saw this sweat house in Killadiskert when I drove around all the roads I could find near Drumkeerin in the late 1990s. I had no idea what it was at the time. My family was from Gortnasillagh East, a little higher up on this mountain.

[@jenniferjuniper97]

Fascinating

[@GEAIreland]

We have an excellent sweathouse in Ballinaglera, now deteriorating as the roof has lost some of its stones. We understood that we couldn't touch it as it was a heritage site, otherwise someone in the community would have replaced the fallen stones. What is the situation about permission to restore it?

[@connectingthroughleitrimsh9903]

If you email me ([e-mail]) Ill send you on the information including info on grant assistance.

[@coletteadanan7186]

Good topic for my thesis

[@donutemptycircle8717]

De Latocnaye was not impressed by the sweating houses he visited on his trip around Ireland in 1796-7. He wrote, "there are few maladies which I would not prefer to the sweating-house remedy." He also noted how the fowls seemed fond of them as shelter in bad weather. Some have said that only young unmarried girls were allowed share the "oven" with the older males but no-one has ever explained just why such a notoriously filthy creature like the old Leitrim peasant would want to suffer the indignity of cleanliness AND the proximity of naked, strapping and springing fine Leitrim lasses. It remains one of the great mysteries of Lovely Leitrim.

[@judeirwin2222]

There was no need for a person to prevent obese individuals from entering the sweat house. The size of the door did that.

[@traceyflynn1920]

Where are they in leitrim..what areas I would like to know if any around south leitrim..

[@sharonmarybrigid3608]

These are in Inishmagrath.

[@fromireland8663]

Where were the stones heated?

[@conlaiarla]

A fire of turf and timber was lit inside and stones were place in the flame to heat. (Not limestone , very important) The capstone on the roof was removed to let the smoke out . After a day the ashes were swept out and the stone floor strewn with fresh green rushes . Seal the hole crawl in , close the door and enjoy. 😂

[@mick1gallagher]

How many pints did you buy for this smart leitrim leitrim when he spun you this story

[@mick1gallagher]

In mayo these are lime kilns to burn limestone for fertiliser nothing to do with sweating