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THE SWEAT-HOUSE IN CASTLEGARDEN
Brid MurphySweat-houses are a common feature of the landscape in the Northern part of Ireland. Most of the 150 or so examples that we know of lie to the North of a line running from Mayo through Cavan and Monaghan. As far as is known there are only 4 South of this line: in Co. Cork; Co. Wicklow; Co. Tipperary and at Castlegarden, Co. Kilkenny.
This latter example lies 500 yards East of the Castlegarden - Kilmaniheen road and 200 yards North of the laneway leading to Lahane's farmyard. It lies at a height of about 400 ft. on the lands of Eamon Hanrahan. The nearest inhabited house is ½ mile away and though there were more houses in the area in the past there were none in the vicinity of the Sweat-house. It is built in the corner of a field at the conjunction of two boundary walls and because of this is very inconspicuous.
It is constructed of very rough stone masonry, built without mortar. The walls are approximately 2 ft. thick. At the bottom are some very large stones over which are laid layers of smaller stones, except for the top four layers which consist of large flat stones. Viewed from the outside the Sweat-house has a bee-hive shape roughly 9 ft. in diameter. However, the chamber on the inside is of a rectangular shape measuring 50" x 60". The walls inside are built straight to a height of 5 ft. The last 4 layers are sloped to form the roof, in the centre of which a hole is left 30" in diameter. This is covered over by a large flat stone when required. The original height from the floor to the opening is 6 ft. There is but one entrance which faces South and measures 21" high by 17" wide. It is framed by a large lintel. 35 yards North of the Sweat-house there is a pool of water which is associated with it.
It is thought that most Sweat-houses are from 200 to 500 years old. Wakeman in his Survey of Innismurray Island (Co. Sligo) remarked that the masonry of an example to be found there had all the appearance of being as old as any of the primitive buildings on the island. They were very popular at one stage but they gradually fell into disuse, particularly in areas which were occupied by the English settlers, and by the time of the famine they were almost completely neglected. They were mostly used for medicinal purposes, chiefly as a cure for pains such as arthritis and rheumatism. However, they were also used for their cleaning abilities. In the Journal of Antiquaries (1891) Mulcahy noted that on Rathlin Island the young women of the area after periods spent cutting turf or pulling flax would use the Sweat-house to remove the stain's from their skin which ordinary washing would not remove. He also mentioned that every year before the Old Lammas Fair at Ballycastle they would also use the Sweat-houses to enhance their complexions and so look their best on the day!
Sweat-houses are used in the following manner: Firstly it is filled with turf, dried furze, grass, heather or any other combustible which is kindled and allowed to burn down; at which stage the house is thoroughly heated. The ashes are swept out and the opening in the roof (which had been open during the fire) is covered over. A few sods are placed on the floor and those using it undress and creep through the entrance which is closed behind them. They remain inside, up to 5 or 6 at a time, either standing in a crouched position or seated on a bench, until the house cooled down when they came out and immediately plunge into the nearby pool of water. This was said to effect an immediate cure to all aches and pains!
One final question must now be asked regarding the Sweat-house in Castlegarden - Why is it situated here so far from the next nearest example? No satisfactory answer can be given. But it may perhaps be of some signifigance that the area in which it is located is known locally as Bal-an-ountach, which is a corruption of Baile an Ultach, the Ulsterman's house or town. There is a local tradition that in ancient times a battle was fought here between the Leinstermen and the Ulstermen. So perhaps it is possible that there is some connection between this tradition and the fact that the great majority of Sweat-Houses in the country are located in Ulster.