What is recorded here

Indicated is a trapezoidal sweathouse in County Mayo, Ireland, built from rough masonry with two narrow chambers running west to east. Its raised stone floors and pointed arches suggest heat, steam and breath rather than ordinary storage. The abbey lies three hundred metres southeast, linking the small structure to a larger religious landscape. People may have sweated, prayed or remembered there before the fields and roads changed around it.

In karst with rough grazing, 300m SE is abbey (MA117-024001-). Trapezoidal (5.5m N-S; 5.3m E-W; H 3.2m) mass of rough masonry, with two internal chambers running W to E, accessed from the W through acutely-pointed doorways (Wth 0.7m; H 1.2m). Floors are raised (H 0.2m) above ground level and consist of slightly spaced stone slabs. N chamber (L 3.1m; Wth 0.9m; H 1.5m) and S chamber (L 3.1m; Wth 0.8m; H 1.5m) are both roofed internally by pointed arches. The above description has been derived from D. Lavelle (compiler), An Archaeological Survey of Ballinrobe and District including Lough Mask and Lough Carra. Lough Mask and Lough Carra Tourist Development Association (1994), No. 680. Date of upload: 6 November 2013

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.