The short version
Firecracker Lakeside Sauna is a wood-fired sauna on the shore of Lough Leebeen in Leebeen Park, near Aughnacliffe in north Longford, and the cold plunge is the lake itself. Social sessions run 55 minutes for €16.95, Thursday to Sunday, with memberships from €39.95 a month. It is built around a slow ritual of heat, cold and stillness, and suits anyone who wants open water rather than a tub.
Photos and film
Firecracker Saunas, Leebeen Park: the venue's own film.
Photos: Firecracker Saunas.
What sets it apart
Firecracker is the only sauna in County Longford where the cold plunge is a lake. Leaving the heat means walking into Lough Leebeen, which changes with the season in a way a tub never does. It is one of 31 lake saunas in Tigh's October 2026 directory of Irish saunas.
The second thing is how it is built. The timber is finished with Yakisugi, the Japanese technique of charring wood to make it last; solar power runs the essentials; the stove burns windfall and ash dieback timber; and rainwater is collected and reused. The project is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund, with Fáilte Ireland and the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly.
Sessions and prices
Social sessions start on the hour: from 17:00 on Thursdays, from 16:00 on Fridays, and from 10:00 at weekends, with the last start at 20:00 on weekdays and 18:00 at weekends. Book online on Firecracker's own website.
| Session | Length | Includes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social sauna | 55 min | wood-fired sauna and the lake plunge | €16.95 |
| Private hire | the whole sauna for your group | At booking |
Prices per person, read from the venue's live timetable on 20 October 2026.
Memberships and packs
| Pass | Terms | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Basic membership, 3 sessions a month | per month, per person | €39.95 |
| Club membership, 4 sessions a month | per month, per person | €55 |
| Premium membership, 6 sessions a month | per month, per person | €69.95 |
| Starter pack, 10 sessions | per person, not shareable | €149 |
| Reset pack, 15 sessions | per person, not shareable | €199 |
| Ritual pack, 30 sessions | per person, not shareable | €385 |
Every tenth completed social visit earns a free place, tracked in a free account on the venue's website. Gift cards cover a social session, a private sauna or a set amount.
The ritual
Firecracker describes a session as five stages rather than a set number of rounds. It is the venue's own framing, and a useful one for a first visit.
A lake plunge is colder in January than in July. That is part of the ritual, not a flaw in it.
What to know before you go
- Bring swimwear, water, sandals or flip flops, two towels, and a robe or warm clothes for afterwards.
- No toilets on site. Plan for that before you arrive.
- Changing: three changing rooms and a storage area. Changing time is included in your slot.
- Age: eighteen and over. ID may be asked for.
- Cancelling: more than 24 hours ahead gets a full refund or credit. Inside 24 hours, or a no show, gets neither. Cancel by email with your booking details.
- Solo or with friends: both work. Sessions are small.
- Groups of fifteen or more can ask Firecracker for group rates.
Getting there
Firecracker is in Leebeen Park, Dunbeggan, Aughnacliffe, in the north of County Longford close to Lough Gowna and the Cavan border. Leebeen Park is a community-run park around Lough Leebeen with a looped boardwalk walk along the shore.
The map did not load. Use the directions link instead.
Things to do near Aughnacliffe
- Leebeen Park and the Aughnacliffe waterfall trails. The park's boardwalk loops the lake shore, and Longford County Council lists walking trails from the park to the waterfall at Aughnacliffe.
- Aughnacliffe Dolmen. A prehistoric portal tomb close to the village, a short drive from the park.
- Lough Gowna. The top lake of the River Erne, mostly in County Longford, with angling and kayaking.
- Granard Motte and the Knights and Conquests Heritage Centre. Ireland's highest Norman motte, in Granard, about 11 kilometres away, where Longford's third sauna, Árd, is.
On Instagram
Follow @firecracker_saunas on Instagram for the latest sessions, events and photos.
Other saunas near Aughnacliffe
North Longford sits beside Cavan's lake country, so there are more saunas within half an hour across the border. Distances are straight-line from Leebeen Park.
- Árd Sauna and WellnessGranard, Co. Longford11 km
- Outdoor Sauna and LeisureKilleshandra, Co. Cavan19 km
- Cabu by the LakesKillykeen Forest Park, Co. Cavan19 km
- Live Lagom SaunaAnnagh Lough, Butlersbridge, Co. Cavan27 km
- The Sweaty YetiLanesborough, Co. Longford32 km
Straight-line distances. All Longford saunas are compared in the Longford guide.
Questions people ask
How much is Firecracker Sauna?
A 55 minute social session is €16.95 per person. Memberships run from €39.95 a month for three sessions to €69.95 for six, and session packs from €149 for ten to €385 for thirty. Prices checked 20 October 2026.
When is Firecracker open?
Thursday and Friday from 16:00 to 21:00, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00. It is closed Monday to Wednesday. Sessions start on the hour.
Is the cold plunge the lake?
Yes. The sauna sits on the shore of Lough Leebeen in Leebeen Park, and the cold side of the session is the lake itself rather than a tub.
What should I bring?
Swimwear, water, sandals or flip flops, two towels (one to sit on in the sauna and one to dry off), and a robe or warm clothes for afterwards. There are no toilets on site, so plan for that.
Is there an age limit?
Eighteen and over. The venue may ask for ID.
Can I book it for a group or a team?
Yes. Private sessions can be booked online, and groups of fifteen or more, such as sports teams or companies, can contact Firecracker directly for group rates and packages.
The bottom line
Firecracker is the lake sauna of County Longford: wood-fired heat, Lough Leebeen as the plunge, and a session built to slow people down. At €16.95 for 55 minutes, Thursday to Sunday, it is the one to choose in Longford if the cold should be open water.
About Tigh
Tigh builds booking and growth software for Irish saunas, and we helped build the booking software that Firecracker Lakeside Sauna and The Sweaty Yeti run on. Our mission is to foster Irish sauna culture: to help more people find a sauna, understand it and make it part of their week. That is why every sauna in Ireland is listed here free, customer or not, and described by the same published method.
Sources
- Firecracker Saunas website, home page, timetable, memberships and questions, read 20 October 2026
- Firecracker Saunas sustainability page, read 20 October 2026
- Firecracker Saunas project funding page, read 20 October 2026
- Longford County Council, Leebeen Park and Aughnacliffe Waterfall Trails, read 6 October 2026
Facts on this page come from the venue's own website and booking page, checked 20 October 2026. Photos and posts belong to Firecracker Saunas. Prices change; the venue's booking page is always the final word. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it and date the change.