Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Sheela-na-gig
Drinan, County Dublin, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Drinan
- County
- Dublin
- Country
- Ireland
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 53.44710, -6.19551
- SMR number
- DU012-024002-
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 1799 "Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
A sheela-na-gig was removed from a gate post at Drinan House (DU012-024001-) in the 1940's and placed in the National Museum, Dublin (DU018-305-) (Dunlea 1945, 114; Cherry 1992, 6). The original location of this sheela-na-gig has not been identified (Freitag 2004, 142). The gate post at Drinan House was not the original location for this sheela-na-gig. The finding of this carving was recorded in 1945 by Father John Dunlea, P. P. when he stated that, ‘some time ago I noticed one of those grotesque female figures known as Sheela-na-Gigs carved on a pillar which acted as a gate-post at Drynam House (DU012-024001-) near Swords, Co Dublin. It was in danger of destruction by farm-carts passing by, so I brought it to the notice of Mr. H. G. Leask, Inspector of National Monuments. He communicated with the National Museum and, on Mr. Wilson of Drynam House graciously giving permission, the stone was carefully removed and is now preserved in the Museum’ (Dunlea 1945, 114). There is no information about the original location for this sheela-na-gig, therefore this entry has been reclassified as a redundant record. See DU018-305- for more details.
Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload/revision: 29 May 2012
References
Dunlea, P.P. 1945 A new sheela -na-gig. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 75, 114.
Cherry, S. 1992 A guide to sheela na gigs. Dublin. National Museum of Ireland.
Freitag, B. 2004 Sheela-na-gigs: unravelling an enigma. London. Routledge.
Nearby in the register
- House - 16th/17th centuryunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Ring-ditchunder 1 mi
- Cremation pitunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.