Grab your togs and get it booked.

A sauna, Celtic mythology and spectacular fire performance might not sound like the obvious ingredients for a night out – but a new touring experience coming to Cork this autumn is putting them together in seriously atmospheric fashion.

Fire performer and storyteller Aidan Ring, aka Tornaido, is bringing Scéalta Ón Sorn – Stories from the Stove to saunas and scenic locations around Ireland, with the tour kicking off on Culture Night this Friday, September 18th, on Cape Clear Island.

And yes, the sauna is very much part of the experience.

The idea behind Scéalta Ón Sorn is to connect Ireland’s growing modern sauna culture with the ancient Irish tradition of the teach allais, or sweat house – communal spaces historically associated with steam bathing and healing.

Rather than simply turning up to watch a performance, audiences can experience the show as part of a sauna package, before heading outside into the darkness to watch Irish mythology unfold through storytelling, music, movement and fire.

Performances are being staged after sunset, beside beaches, lakes and other atmospheric sauna locations – making this about as far removed from sitting in a theatre as you could possibly get.

What to expect 

Aidan brings lesser-known stories from Irish mythology to life, including the legendary duel between Cúchulainn and Ferdia and the Second Battle of Moytura, combining traditional storytelling with specialist fire props including staff, dragon staff, chain staff, poi, fire diablo and fire sword.

The result is part storytelling session, part fire spectacle and part immersive cultural experience.

“There’s something really powerful about hearing these stories outside, at night, after coming out of a sauna, with the fire lighting up the darkness,” says Aidan.

“The sauna environment creates a natural connection with the old Irish sweat house tradition, and it gives us a really interesting way to bring mythology into the present. Nothing brings a story to life like fire!”

The performance is designed specifically around the sauna environment, with Aidan using the movement and rhythm of the fire props as part of the storytelling rather than simply using flames as a dramatic backdrop.

The tour runs from September 18th until October 10th, taking in locations across Cork:

Tour dates include:

• Friday 18th September: Sána na Mara, Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork

• Sunday 20th September: Gormu Puball Allais, Castlehaven, Co. Cork

• Sunday September 27th: Wilder Cork, Garretstown, Co. Cork

• Sunday October 3: The Coastal Cabin Sauna, Garryvoe, Co. Cork

• Sunday October 4: Ealu Saunas, Clonakilty, Co. Cork

• Friday October 9: My Hot Spot, Youghal, Co. Cork

• Saturday October 10: Wholesome Heat Sauna, Summercover, Kinsale, Co. Cork