Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Sheela-na-gig
Bunratty East, County Clare, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Bunratty East
- County
- Clare
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 52.69668, -8.81204
- SMR number
- CL062-001005-
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
This figure is now set into the S window in the hall of Bunratty castle (CL062-001004-); it was transferred there from the inner reveal of a window in the top room of the SW tower during a twentieth-century restoration of the castle. It is described by Freitag (2004, 125) as a figure, ‘carved at left to middle of a large rectangular slab. Triangular head with deep-set eyes, grim mouth and gritted teeth. Flat, but sizeable, pendulous breasts. Arms form circle, passing behind thighs. Legs widely splayed and set at right angles to body before bending at right angles at knees. Vulva, sagging below thighs, appears to be torn open by both hands to release some soft substance’ (Andersen 1977, 146, No. 59)
CL062-001005-_01.jpg attached.
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.
Andersen, J. 1977 The Witch on the wall: medieval erotic sculpture in the British Isles. London. Allen and Unwin Ltd.
Nearby in the register
- Castle - hall-houseunder 1 mi
- Bawnunder 1 mi
- Historic townunder 1 mi
- Batteryunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.