Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Sheela-na-gig
Ballylarkin Upper, County Kilkenny, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Ballylarkin Upper
- County
- Kilkenny
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 52.72287, -7.42755
- SMR number
- KK013-018003-
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
Sheela-na-gig currently located in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin (Cherry 1992, 6). Originally located on the walls of Ballylarkin medieval church (KK013-018001-). Described by Freitag as a figure, ’carved in relief on slab and probably most refined of all Sheela-na-gigs, depicted in a squatting position. Oval head with big ears, ovoid eyes, small long nose and slit-mouth; thick neck. Tiny, pendulous breasts dwarfed by decisively carved ribcase. Arms akimbo with right hand placed on bent knee while middle finger of left hand delicately touches pudenda’ (Freitag 2004, 123-4). Cross-referenced with DU018-177----.
Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload: 6 June 2012
References
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
- Churchunder 1 mi
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
- Memorial stone (present location)under 1 mi
- Architectural fragmentunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.