Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Sheela-na-gig
Rattoo, County Kerry, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Rattoo
- County
- Kerry
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 52.44267, -9.65017
- SMR number
- KE009-056002-
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
Figure located high up on inner face of left hand corner of N facing window of Rattoo round tower (KE009-056001-). Plaster cast of figure in National Museum of Ireland, Dublin. Described by Freitag as a ‘flat figure with big head, pronounced forehead and strangely formed, almost rectangular ears; depression indicating eyes and mouth, but no nose, pointed chin; thin neck. Angular shoulders; no breasts. Arms flexed with left hand on thigh; hands not visible in plaster cast, but extension of arm pointing in direction of pudenda; right arm held at right angle; if original delineates hand it would be on abdomen. Thighs and calves of figure well rounded; both feet pointing outwards’ (Freitag 2004, 139).
See attached drawing of sheela-na-gig taken from Toal 1995, Fig. 130.
Compiled by Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload: 06 June 2012
References
Toal, C. 1995 North Kerry Archaeological Survey. Dingle. Brandon in association with FAS Training and Employment Authority.
Freitag, B. 2004 Sheela-na-gigs: unravelling an enigma. London. Routledge.
Nearby in the register
- Round towerunder 1 mi
- Memorial stoneunder 1 mi
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
- Churchunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.