Sweathouse, Largymore, Co. Donegal
Tucked into the steep western slope of a river valley in Largymore, County Donegal, lies an intriguing archaeological feature that has puzzled observers.
Sweathouse, Largymore, Co. Donegal
This roughly circular sunken structure, measuring about 2 metres by 2.2 metres internally, has been cleverly built into the hillside’s western face. The remains of an earthen bank with traces of interior stone facing create a recessed chamber, whilst a possible entrance, roughly 0.8 metres wide, opens westward towards a stream that runs immediately below.
The structure’s distinctive design; a sunken interior built into a hillside with its opening oriented towards water; strongly suggests it may have served as a sweathouse, a type of traditional Irish sauna used for medicinal and social purposes. Alternatively, it could represent the remains of a kiln, though no such structure appears on any edition of the Ordnance Survey maps. Interestingly, whilst this particular feature went unrecorded by the Ordnance Survey, a lime kiln is marked on the 25-inch map in the field west of the stream, indicating some industrial activity in the area.
This isn’t an isolated find; two similar structures nearby hint at a pattern of use in this upland landscape. Another possible sweathouse sits just 2 metres to the north, whilst a third comparable structure, also facing the stream, can be found 90 metres further upslope to the north-northeast. These clustered features suggest this valley slope may have been a significant location for traditional bathing practices or small-scale industrial activity, taking advantage of the natural topography and ready water supply.