Sheela-na-gig

The National Monuments Service's description

Sheela-na-gig (LI005-017180-) now located in the Hunt Museum in Limerick City (Reg. No. HCM 033). According to McMahon and Roberts this sheela-na-gig was discovered by workers while repairing a culvert on a small stream c. 100m from Black Castle (LI023-040----) where the carving (dims. 0.48m x 0.33m) had been rebuilt into the fabric of the roadside wall (McMahon & Roberts 2001, 120). It has been suggested that this sheela-na-gig may have come from the nearby castle (LI023-040---) when it was pulled down in the 19th century. Described by Freitag as a stone (dims. H 0.5m; Wth 0.34m) with figure ‘skilfully carved in flat relief on local limestone; damaged, head missing, and legs from thigh downwards and left hand also broken away. Trunk and limbs unusually plump without signs of emaciation; well shaped droopy but proportional breasts. Arms passing behind legs; right hand lifting lower part of thigh. Deeply incised naval and oval pudenda; shape of latter exaggerated, and seems to be split at upper end. A groove is cut vertically downwards below pudenda’ (Freitag 2004, 126).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 28 May 2012

References

McMahon, J. and Roberts, J. 2001 The sheela-na-gigs of Ireland and Britain: the divine hag of the Christian celts - an illustrated guide. Cork. Mercier Press.

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