Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Sheela-na-gig
Clenagh, County Clare, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Clenagh
- County
- Clare
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 52.73336, -8.93965
- SMR number
- CL051-052003-
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 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
The sheela-na-gig is carved onto a quoin stone on the SE angle of Clenagh tower house (CL051-052001-). It is described by Freitag (2004, 108) as a figure consisting of a ‘wide groove-like depression outlines the earless head; the facial features are barely discernible. It has no neck, and the breasts are only hinted at. The arms are kept close to the trunk and joined around an oval depression, indicating the pudenda and with signs of rubbing. It is in a squatting position with thin, spindly legs widely splayed and set at right angles, bent at knees, feet pointing outwards’. (Andersen 1976; 1977, 147, No. 67)
Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien/Michael Moore
Date of upload: 6 June, 2012
References
Andersen, J. 1977 The Witch on the wall: medieval erotic sculpture in the British Isles. London. Allen and Unwin Ltd.
Freitag, B. 2004 Sheela-na-gigs: unravelling an enigma. London. Routledge.
Andersen, J. 1976 Sheela-na-gig at Clenagh Castle, Co. Clare. North Munster Aantiquarian Journal, vol. 18, 75-6.
Nearby in the register
- Castle - tower houseunder 1 mi
- Bawnunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.