Saving our heritage

Located in remote places in parts of Fermanagh, you may come across small beehive-shaped corbelled structures of field stones.  Rarely more than 2 metres in external height and diameter they have an opening just large enough to admit one person on their hands and knees.  These structures are the remains of sweat houses; the Irish version of the Turkish bath and in Germany they are called the Irish bath.  Of the 42 recorded sweat houses in Northern Ireland 22 are found in Fermanagh, making Fermanagh an important area for this type of monument.  They were once much more common with a French traveller in the late eighteenth century observing that “whenever there are four or five cabins near each other, there is sure to be a sweat house”.

The sweat houses were thought to have been located in remote areas being “tucked away from the eyes of the land agents who could have charged rent on them”. Although most have now been recorded on the Northern Ireland Sites and Monuments Record, their discrete location means that they are occasionally still being discovered today, as on the farm of Vincent Ferguson between Belcoo and Garrison.  ‘Discovered’ is perhaps wrong as Mr Ferguson has known about it all his life. Mr Ferguson is a participant in DARD’s Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) Scheme. He pointed out the sweat house to a member of staff in Countryside Management Branch. The sweat house was beginning to show signs of decay but after taking advice from the Department of the Environment, restoration work was completed as part of Mr Ferguson’s ESA Scheme agreement.  Trees growing on top of the structure were carefully cut down and then treated to prevent regrowth, whilst the bramble starting to engulf the structure was removed leaving the sweat house intact.

The combined efforts of the farmer and government departments working together has made sure the monument will be preserved for future generations.

The sweat house before it was managed under ESA scheme agreement. The trees are starting to undermine the structure.

Removal of the trees and bramble without disturbing the structure has left a well preserved example of an old Irish sweathouse.