Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Sheela-na-gig
Merlinpark, County Galway, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Merlinpark
- County
- Galway
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 53.27983, -8.99805
- SMR number
- GA094-023001-
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
Discovered in 2002 by Martin Fitzpatrick (Freitag 2004, 138), this sheela-na-gig figure is carved onto the spandrel of singe-light ogee-headed window on the second floor of the S wall of Merlin Castle (GA094-023----). Described by Freitag (ibid.) as an ‘unusual figure because sitting upside down, below decorative motif; in opposite corner there is a six-petal marigold. Round head with facial features discernible; breasts indicated; both arms straight and in front of body, hands joined to touch long vertical slit indicating vulva’.
See attached screenshot of 3D model of Sheela-na-gig created by Digital Heritage Age. 3D model can be accessed on the Sketchfab website at: https://skfb.ly/68uyw
Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien
Date of upload: 29 May 2012
References
Freitag, B. 2004 Sheela-na-gigs: unravelling an enigma. London. Routledge.
Nearby in the register
- Castle - tower houseunder 1 mi
- Middenunder 1 mi
- House - 18th/19th centuryunder 1 mi
- Designed landscape featureunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.