Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Sheela-na-gig
Tullovin, County Limerick, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Tullovin
- County
- Limerick
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 52.49905, -8.68387
- SMR number
- LI031-048001-
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
Horizontal sheela-na-gig carved onto the external face of a quoin high up on SE angle of tower house (LI031-048----) (Guest 1936, 112; McMahon and Roberts 2001, 153-4). Described by Freitag as a sheela-na-gig ‘carved in high relief on corner stone. Left arm raised to head, depicted with some kind of head-dress and arresting facial features. Long torso with small breasts, ribs and navel; very long, contorted right arm passes under thigh with at least two fingers touching slit-vulva. Legs widely splayed; big toes turned outwards’ (Freitag 2004, 144).
Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload: 28 May 2012.
References
Guest, E.M. 1936 Irish sheela na gigs in 1935. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 66, 107-29.
Freitag, B. 2004 Sheela-na-gigs: unravelling an enigma. London. Routledge.
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.
Nearby in the register
- Castle - tower houseunder 1 mi
- Bawnunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Burialunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.