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SAUNAS HAVE “EXPLODED in popularity” in recent years, according to one small business owner.
Tom Connolly has been running a sauna in west Kerry since March 2024 after identifying a gap in the market along the scenic coastline.
Sona Sauna is a wood-fired barrel sauna that heats up to about 100 degrees and is based by the sea in Ceann Tra/Ventry, a few minutes outside Dingle, Co Kerry.
“It’s based on the Lithuanian barrel sauna, which is a traditional sauna that has no insulation.
“A lot of modern saunas would have insulation and be quite fancy, where this is kind of more ‘back to basics’ – I guess like a shed with a stove in it, which is the way saunas traditionally were.”
Sauna attendance is on an upward trend, especially when combined with the popularity of sea swimming.
Mentally, it feels great. It totally blows away the cobwebs.
Connolly said sauna usage has a range of health benefits associated with heat-shock protein development.
Speaking to the PA news agency, he added: “It’s good physically and mentally, it feels great. It totally blows away the cobwebs.
“If you’re in any way stressed or or hungover, hop in the sauna for half an hour, 45 minutes and you just kind of feel like you can take on whatever your day has in front of you a bit more.
“Or if it’s in the evening, you can decompress.”
Connolly, originally from Dublin, moved to Dingle “spontaneously” with his partner three years ago.
At the time, he was able to continue working in the creative department of an advertising agency on a remote or manageable hybrid basis, which saw him return to Dublin occasionally.
However, Connolly said that he “really missed” having access to a sauna when he arrived in Dingle as he was used to going to one after a sea swim several times a week in Dublin.
After initially thinking about opening one on a part-time basis, a change in his work circumstances allowed him to pursue running the sauna as an almost full-time role.
“Basically since St Patrick’s weekend last year, it’s just been full on.”
I speak Irish every day now, it has improved to a level it has never been before. Everyone has been super friendly and accommodating.
Connolly said the sauna is used as both a local amenity and a tourist attraction.
“They both complement each other. Sauna culture has grown so much in Ireland, it has kind of exploded in popularity over the last number of years.”
There is also some evidence of an ancient Irish tradition of “sweathouses”, suggesting that our relationship with a type of sauna culture is not entirely new.
Connolly explained that there are observations from the 18th century of Irish people using heat therapy in small stone huts to treat a range of ailments.
Sona Sauna is located in the heart of the Gaeltacht, but Connolly admits he had a very low level of Irish when he started the business.
However, he said he made a concerted effort to learn Irish over the last year, adding: “I speak Irish every day now, it has improved to a level it has never been before. Everyone has been super friendly and accommodating.”
Connolly frequently posts humorous business updates on the sonasaunaventry Instagram, including turning his trials and tribulations into song, along with announcements on availability and weather developments in Irish and English.
I think regardless of what you’re doing or selling, people just want to laugh when they’re on a break on social media.
He added: “I felt that diving into it would be the best way and I use social media because if I’m online, I can ask people ‘what’s the best way to say there’s a blanket of snow on the ground’ or whatever and it’s very interactive.
“I think regardless of what you’re doing or selling, people just want to laugh when they’re on a break on social media.”
On a fresh, frosty, windless morning under clear blue skies, Connolly said he has become a “sabshsai” – an Irish word for a person who works outdoors in all weather.
“You’ve caught me on a high because this is sauna season – it looks like Finland today.
“But if it was four days ago, I would be in a different mood because it was just lashing rain and intense – so a difficult part of it is that I am constantly analysing the weather on an hourly basis.”
Sona Sauna opened on Christmas Day as part of a fundraiser for Kerry Hospice and West Kerry Care of the Aged.
Connolly said one of the greatest joys he gets from the sauna is seeing people enjoy something he set up and the “sense of community” he has developed.
“It’s just been slowly building a sauna community, which is what I wanted because it’s what I really missed in Dublin.”
He added: “We have people who base their week around coming to the sauna, which is just really nice.”
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It’s a scary thing that nearly 10 years after that spectacular crash there is not a single substantive regulation in place to prevent it happening all over again.
They can still gamble with depositors and savers cash in most countries, and they could still create another house of cards that will come crashing down, and come back to us with the exact same excuse of ”you have to bail us out or your savings and deposits will come crashing down with us”
Don’t worry though, we have a secondary school teacher who was a disaster in every ministerial portfolio he’s ever been in charge of on the case…
It’s strange how many seem to believe Hilary Clinton will be the solution and that she will take on big banking, when in fact it was her husband who repealed the Glass-Steagal act and her highest donors so far are Goldman Sachs
Is this 1892? Why are you judging people based on what their husbands think?
Because she has quite clearly endorsed her husband’s platform, both when he was in office and recently..
Teacher? When was the last time Noonan taught?
There are several reasons why Hillary can be said to be pro-bailout and pro-moral hazard:
1. She voted for it
2. Bill has said the repeal of the wall between depository and investment banking was the biggest mistake he made in his Presidency, she has said it was not a big deal.
3. She is SWIMMING in corporate cash, esp from the financial industry.
Much of the time we compare well to the US system. If I’m elected Taoiseach, I don’t have to worry, as Obama does, that my own party in parliament won’t support the policies I ran on, I know they will because of the whip (which has its downsides but IMO more pro than con) but in this case we compare badly, were v similar. We did no financial reform, at least they did some token reform and a token stimulus, we did nothing
If I am elected Taoiseach … I thought you wanted to be elected Prime Minister Ryan … just saying …ignore if wrong !
Stop being a purposeful tool Dermot, it’s trying. They are the same bloody thing.
I’d have to check his teacher pension statement to answer that one Reg
They are not the same thing Ryan ..In Britain the Prime Minister bows to a sovereign Monarch , in Ireland the people are the sovereign !
You are so full of it Ryan !
Ireland is no longer SOVEREIGN,no if’s buts or any other argument about it,they like spain Greece Portugal etc etc have given up their SOVEREIGNTY to the unelected EUSSR.
Both Noonan and Kenny almost got away with the teachers pensions they never earned, they held their jobs for all the years in the Dail using substitute teachers to earn their pensions for them, the same substitutes usually graduates were not entitled to holiday pay or to contribute to their own public service pension.
Another example of low standards in high places.
If this judge cannot rule then why is he a judge ?
In fairness to Gerry Adams he can’t cut a hedge , but we don’t pay tax for Gerry Adams to cut hedges …that kinda thing …
Does this judge deserve to sit on the benches after proving total incapacity in the role for which he takes a salary ? particulary when Irish Law allows for Appeals … Why was it not referred to the Irish Supreme Court if he was too incompetent to rule , or why was another judge not appointed to the case in the first place !
Irish Law degrees ;- what a waste of a poor little calf’s skin !
She…
She wasn’t too incompetent, I’m sure O’Malley J had plenty of opinions of an intellectual vigour that would put you to shame, however under the law she hasn’t the jurisdiction to express them..
We were promised during Traeties that Irish Law would supercede European law ..No wonder theUnion is going to break up ..it is so riddled with lies that it is now an unholy beast of a thing !
Thanks Paul ..it just shows the conditioning …expect judges to be Male ..ah well mea culpa !
First thing of import to note, the ECJ is entirely unconnected to the European Commission and has regularly in fact ruled against the outcome the commission would have hoped for, so people shouldn’t worry about any kind of bias in this judgment..
Secondly, this has nothing to do with the promissory notes or the bank guarentee, both will be entirely unaffected by this decision..
Michael Noonan admitted that the Promissory Note deal was Illegal after he had it pushed through a drunken Dail.Stephen Donnelly questioned the illegality of it at the time …therefore the Promissory deal must be illegal !
If it illegal to drive a car when drunk then why is not illegal to vote on the future of the Nation when drunk ?
Killjoy, you are well named,lol !
And the high court said that it was legal when Joan Collins took a case.. I think TD’s being drunk while in session is a disgrace, but it makes no difference as to the legality of the outcome of a vote
I think the Irish Citizens should change that law and indeed other cases and compus mentis means that we shouldn’t even have to !
We ought to have a constitutional amendment to ban any future bailouts.
Non compus mentis is to do with criminal law, nothing to do with the legislative process.. And go ahead and change that law, won’t change the legality of the promissory note vote
there was no promissory note vote… after being found illegal, the prom note was converted into soverign debt…
The prom notes were converted into illegal sovereign debt by a vote backed by Fine Gael, Labour and a Michael Martin who said that he “trusted” the TAOISEACH … I WATCHED HIM AND HE LOOKING UP TO THE GALLERY OR CLOCK AS HE SMIRKED !
cAPS LOCKS SORRY !
Well if the decision goes to Europe we all know how that’s going to play out..Seriously!!
The judge is obliged the remit the matter to the ECJ as EU law is “supranational” and all the judge is doing is saving vast amounts of taxpayer’s money and court time whilst seeking a definitive answer to a highly important question. Remember, both sides cannot be correct and the shareholders do have certain rights such as to peaceable enjoyment of their property free from state interference . It looks like clear interference so the role of the ECJ is most welcome as it will bring clarity to a very important issue for thousands of citizens !
Fair enough in one sense ..but Permanent T.S.B. is owned by the people of this State.
It is regulated by the Irish Central Bank and was at the time.
And the Bank guarantee was voted on by the Irish Government under advise from an Irish Attorney General !
Are all our legal set-ups only a front for Angela and the Rotcshilds or what ?
Are all our legal set-ups only a front for Angela and the Rotcshilds or what ?
yes.
A pleasure Dermot,
These days I always check the gender of the judge when something unusual is announced..
Also note there is no mention of the “Supreme Court” which would tie in to your point about the supremacy of Irish Law…
This looks like a judge trying to buy time for the government. Let’s just see if PTSB will still be around by the time the ECJ rules.
Another vulture circling I’d say Paul !
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