Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Sheela-na-gig
Rosenallis, County Laois, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Rosenallis
- County
- Laois
- Country
- Ireland
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 53.13626, -7.40687
- SMR number
- LA003-016008-
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 found at St Mary's Church, Rosenallis in October of 1991 during clean up scheme in graveyard (LA003-016009-), which has since been removed and is now housed in the National Museum of Ireland. Described by Freitag as 'Heavy looking figure carved on irregular sandstone slab (dims. H 0.51m ; Wth 0.31m) and quite weathered. Facial features discernible; short hair indicated. Heavy, round shoulders; small breasts, a few ribs. Decidedly swollen abdomen, possibly indicating pregnancy. Arms slightly bent; both hands touching oval pudenda. Squatting position, legs splayed and bent, feet turned outwards' (Freitag 2004, 140).
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 17 December 2007
Nearby in the register
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
- Cross-slabunder 1 mi
- Churchunder 1 mi
- Round towerunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.