Leitrim Sweathouse Project

04/03/2024

As of 25 January, UNESCO has verified damage/destruction of 22 [cultural heritage] sites in Gaza since the war began. While insignificant in comparison to the loss of life, the EAA European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) and other international organisations are as yet silent (unlike in Ukraine, where condemnation was swift). Sign the petition, to 'Call for EAA Statement on Gaza'

Call for EAA Statement on Gaza

03/12/2022

The Sweathouse report for 2022 is now available. See below

Find out about the new discoveries made by the Leitrim Sweathouse Project by viewing the 2022 project report at:
https://bit.ly/3VlCIVZ

We are also launching new Sweathouse Conservation Guidelines for Landowners which are aimed at landowners and community groups who want to protect sweathouses:
Find out more at: https://bit.ly/3ERFyLa

20/11/2022

This should be of interest to those with an interest in Sweathouses

Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Historic Structures Fund 2023, Minister Malcolm Noonan TD, Heritage Minister Noonan, Housing For All, Local Authority Architectural Conservation Officers, Heritage Officers, Minister Darragh O'Brien, Minister Peter Burke, Strokestown House, RTE Great Irish in...

20/10/2022

Delighted we won the Heritage Week Award for County Leitrim, thanks to all those who took part and helped make it happen County Leitrim Kiltyclogher The Heritage Council Heritage Week

11/10/2022

19th century Irish village at Baker's Flat, South Australia may have had a Sweathouse. It was a clachan settlement formed by immigrants around the time of the Great Famine. Initially thought to be a Lime-kiln, it is now believed to be a Sweathouse or a Still house. If it is a Sweathouse we might be able to find a comparison with some of those found in Ireland. Well done to the excavation team and Dr Susan Aurthure. Thanks too to Geraldine from the Leitrim project for spotting it.
ABC-TV Australia

In a field north of Adelaide, buried beneath the soil, is a portal not only into Australia's colonial history but into Ireland's past.

20/08/2022

Don't forget to drop in to our 'Ask About Archaeology' event today at Kiltyclogher Heritage Centre & Sean MacDiarmada Homestead at 10am as part of
This is a free event and no registration needed. Just call in and tell us what you've found, or sites you've come across. See below for further details.
Leitrim County Council The Heritage Council

Have you ever wanted to ask an Archaeologist a question? … or tell one about the things you have come across in your locality. This is your chance to come along...

19/08/2022

Don't forget to drop in to our 'Ask About Archaeology' event today at Mohill Library at 2pm as part of
This is a free event and no registration needed. Just call in and tell us what you've found, or sites you've come across. See below for further details.
Leitrim County Council The Heritage Council

Have you ever wanted to ask an Archaeologist a question? … or tell one about the things you have come across in your locality. This is your chance to come along...

16/08/2022

National Heritage Week, an initiative by the Heritage Council, celebrates all things heritage. It brings together communities, families, organisations, cultural institutions, academics and enthusiasts, to build awareness about the value of heritage and support its conservation.

16/08/2022

A Sweathouse in the uplands near the Yellow River, Co. Leitrim. When surveyed in 1991, the entrance was not visible, but here it clearly faces out towards a small stream Heritage Week Leitrim County Council The Heritage Council

15/08/2022

Don't forget to drop next Friday (Mohill) or Saturday (Kiltyclogher) and tell us or ask us about Archaeology in Leitrim. More at https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings/ask-about-archaeology

02/08/2022

A corn drying kiln excavated in south Leitrim with support from The Royal Irish Academy Leitrim County Council . Almost certainly late- or post-medieval, the remains of some drying rack timbers at the base which should help date it accurately

What a find! Archaeologists working near Ballinamuck last week made an unexpected discovery. While excavating what they believed was a sweathouse in the townland of Catan, Cloone they found a dome shaped structure descending into the ground with a small tunnel at one end. In short, it resembled an upside-down igloo.
The site was identified by Jacinta Heslin who thankfully remembered her father telling of crawling through a short tunnel into a circular space as a child and assumed it to be a sweathouse. Jacinta has been working with Gerry from our team in recent weeks to record such sites and it was only last week that the archaeology team arrived to investigate her own one, just behind her house.

The conclusion of the archaeologists is that this is an early medieval corn kiln, possibly over a thousand years old. Samples were taken from the bottom for analysis to help determine the date using organic material such as seeds. The site was then filled in again last Friday to preserve it for future generations. We are very grateful to Jacinta for inviting us over to take a peek while it was still exposed to take photos to share with you all. Its discovery was only made possible through her infectious love of history and the generations of people in Cattan who preserved the memory of its location.

We’ll update here once the analysis is complete.
Leitrim Guardian