THE GOAT House Sauna is a small, private sauna and cold plunge experience created by Lisa and Dale, a young couple living in the countryside of Killabban, Cill Abáin, Co. Laois.
Set on just over an acre of land and surrounded by pristine rural views, the sauna is not part of a commercial spa or large wellness complex. It is a personal project, built with care and shaped by a genuine passion for sauna culture and the health benefits it brings.
For Lisa and Dale, the sauna has long been more than a way to relax. It became part of a routine they valued for its physical and mental benefits. Over time, their interest deepened as they explored the role of heat, cold and environment in supporting overall wellbeing.
What stood out to them was how much the setting mattered. Being outdoors, surrounded by nature and away from noise, changed the entire experience. From that idea, a simple question formed. Could they create a space that allowed others to experience sauna in the same calm, natural way?
THE GOAT House Sauna is the answer to that question.
Dale’s background as a fabricator played a key role in bringing the project to life. Rather than buying a ready-made solution, the sauna was designed and built by hand, with close attention paid to detail, flow and comfort.
Every element was considered carefully. From how the sauna heats and holds warmth, to where the cold plunges sit and how people move between spaces, the focus was always on creating something that feels intuitive, practical and unforced.
Nothing is over-designed. The aim was to build something honest, durable and comfortable.
While the land is not a working farm in the traditional sense, it is very much a lived-in rural space. The setting is quiet and open, with wide skies and countryside views that shift with the seasons.
The couple’s pygmy goats are often nearby and have become part of the character of the place. They reflect the small-scale, personal nature of the project and the connection to everyday rural life.
Lisa and Dale believe that the environment you sauna in is just as important as the sauna itself.
THE GOAT House Sauna was created not just for personal use, but to be shared with the local community and surrounding areas. Lisa and Dale wanted to offer a place where people could step away from busy routines, even briefly, and focus on slowing down.
The space is designed to feel welcoming without being busy, private without being exclusive, and calm without being formal. Whether someone is new to sauna or already familiar with its benefits, the experience is intended to feel accessible and relaxed.
At the heart of THE GOAT House Sauna is a belief in simplicity, balance and nature. Heat and cold. Stillness and movement. Time without distraction.
This is a new venture for Lisa and Dale, built slowly and thoughtfully, with care for both the people who visit and the land it sits on. Their aim is simple. To provide a space where guests can warm up, cool down and leave feeling better than when they arrived.