Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Sheela-na-gig
Killinaboy, County Clare, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Killinaboy
- County
- Clare
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 52.97024, -9.08554
- SMR number
- CL017-020014-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1753 "Mappa geographica Regni Hiberniae" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
It is built into the outer face of the S wall of the medieval church (CL017-002001-) above the doorway. The image is described by Freitag (2004, 135) as a figure consisting of a ‘round head with a very grim mouth, an emaciated neck, no breasts and clearly marked ribs. The arms are in front of body with the hands around the genitals. Something seems to pour out of the pudenda. It is in a standing position with the legs apart and slightly bent at knees, feet turned outwards’. (Guest 1936, 115, No. 32; Andersen 1977, 149, No. 85) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien/Michael Moore Date of upload: 6 June, 2012
References
Freitag, B. 2004 Sheela-na-gigs: unravelling an enigma. London. Routledge. Guest, E.M. 1936 Irish sheela na gigs in 1935. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 66, 107-29. Andersen, J. 1977 The Witch on the wall: medieval erotic sculpture in the British Isles. London. Allen and Unwin Ltd.
Nearby in the register
- Churchunder 1 mi
- Memorial stoneunder 1 mi
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
- Memorial stoneunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.