Sweathouse in Mertonhall,cloghkeating

A well-preserved single-storey vaulted circular building (int. diam. 2.2m; wall T 0.66m) with a doorway (H 1.2m) at NNE, built into the SW face of the enclosing fosse of a ringfort (TN010-047001) and probably contemporary with a conjoined enclosure. The bank of the latter runs off the top of the possible sweathouse. Possibly nineteenth century in date and may be associated with the nearby big house marked on the OS 6-inch map as Merton Hall. No evidence of burning or soot remains on the internal surface of the building, therefore it may have served some other function (Manning 1985b, 25). The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008