Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Sheela-na-gig
Dowagh West, County Mayo, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Dowagh West
- County
- Mayo
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 53.54130, -9.21997
- SMR number
- MA121-178----
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 1753 "Mappa geographica Regni Hiberniae" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
This record was listed in the SMR (1991) as 'stone sculpture (present location)’ but at that time the location of the stone was unknown and it was not listed in the RMP (1997). It was first recorded in 1867 by Wilde as a carved stone figure which he believed depicted a child. Wilde noted that it was found at ‘Cill Arsa’ or Killursagh church (MA121-137001-) in Ballymacgibbon North townland, but was removed from that church and built into a coach house nearby (O Lochlainn 1968, 157). In 2012 fresh information about the stone came to light. The carving represents not a child but a full figure sheila-na-gig which appears to have suffered damage in the past. It is currently affixed to a wall in the porch of the Roman Catholic church in Cross village in Dowagh townland, c. 800m to NE of its original location (MA121-137002-) at Killursagh church.
See attached screenshots of 3D model of Sheela-na-gig created by Digital Heritage Age. 3D model can be accessed on the Sketchfab website at: https://skfb.ly/6qPBX
Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy
Date of upload: 13 January 2015
References
Ó Lochlainn, C. (ed.) 1968 Wilde's Loch Corrib Its Shores and Islands. Dublin. Three Candles.
Nearby in the register
- Churchunder 1 mi
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
- Ritual site - holy wellunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.