Exhibitionist figure

The National Monuments Service's description

Located above S window of medieval church (KE049-086001-). Described by Freitag as a sheela-na-gig with 'big triangular head with rope-like hair and prominent jug ears; bulbous eyes, wedge nose and small open mouth. Body divides below neck; no arms; very broad genital area which shows signs of rubbing; legs spread horizontally, stretching out over spandrels of window; feet turned outwards; left leg slightly raised' (Freitag 2004, 135).
In 1942 the following details about this exhibitionist figure was recorded; 'In Kilsarcon graveyard the gable end of an early Church still stands. Over the window a chiselled-out image can be clearly seen in a limestone square. Local folklore tales state that the image is that of St. Arcon, patron of the parish to whom rounds are paid every May. The public can enter at any time through a swing gate. An old custom still surviving is the practice of paying "Rounds" in Kilsarkan graveyard. In a cavity in the wall of the old Church a number of holy pictures have been placed. persons come during the month of May (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) and walk around the graveyard three times. Each time a Rosary is to be recited. On the completion of the third Rosary, the pilgrim goes to the remaining window to touch the engraved image of St. Arcon. The pilgrim then goes to the holy pictures to say any prayer in conclusion. Before departing something is left at the foot of the old wall preferably a holy book (Messenger, etc.). many of these are to be seen today. The "Rounds" are said for cures or for departed relatives or friends' (ITA Survey).
Kilsarkan East church and graveyard (KE049-086002-) was surveyed in 2007 by Laurence Dunne and described as follows; 'Situated on an elevated site which slopes from south to north, there are expansive views to the north, west and east. The church is in a poor state of preservation with only the eastern and most of the southern elevations remain upstanding. It was impossible to comprehensively examine the eastern elevation as it is completely overgrown with ivy. The remnants of the southern elevation is a denuded, tapering wall which rises from 1m, on what survives of the western end, to full height at the eastern end. A heavy growth of ivy covers the walls. A single ogee headed cut limestone window ope is present in the southeast corner of the wall. This window is interesting and unusual as a sheela-na-gig (KE048-086005-), forms the apex of the window. However, in recent years, a custom seems to have evolved where the window has become a stopping point while saying the rosary and a cross is then scratched with a stone by the devotee at several locations on the window’s side stones and indeed on the sheela-na-gig but in particular on the sill stone which is also unfortunately cracked through. A rough stone is placed on the window sill for this purpose. On the interior the splayed embrasure of the sheela-na-gig window has been mostly robbed out as well as other side fabric material. The inner head of the window and surrounding masonry are all missing. A broken piscina is located to the immediate east of the window, in the southeast corner of the church' (Buckley and Dunne 2007, 6-7).

To see a 3D model of this carving visit https://skfb.ly/o9DNH

See attached photographs courtesy of Laurence Dunne

Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 24 April 2022

References

Buckley, K. and Dunne L. 2007 Archaeological Survey, Kilsarkan East Church & Graveyard, Co. Kerry. Unpublished report commissioned by the Heritage Office, Kerry County Council.

Irish Tourist Association. Surveys undertaken in the 1940s for the Irish Tourist Association (now Fáilte Ireland) relating to ‘Natural features, antiquities, historic associations etc.' Extracts from these surveys were copied into the Topographical files of the Office of Public Works and these have been incorporated into the Sites and Monuments Record files (National Monuments Service).

Freitag, B. 2004 Sheela-na-gigs: unravelling an enigma. London. Routledge.