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Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland

Sheela-na-gig

Castleboy (Skreen By., Tara Par.), County Meath, Ireland

Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1915) covering the location of Sheela-na-gig, Castleboy (Skreen By., Tara Par.), County Meath, with a pin at the register's coordinates
Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1915), covering this location. Courtesy of the National Library of Scotland. The pin is ours, placed from the register's coordinates.

The record

Townland
Castleboy (Skreen By., Tara Par.)
County
Meath
Country
Ireland
First-edition OS map
Not indicated
Latest-edition OS map
Cross
Coordinates
53.58044, -6.61076
SMR number
ME031-033018-

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

4 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1790 map "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).

Historical maps covering this location

  • 1790 · Composite: Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1799 · Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1830 · V.3:11-15:XV. Britisches Reich. C. Kon: Ireland. a. Prov: Leinster. Counties: 1-12 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1891 · Ireland 16 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

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This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated at the crest of the E-facing slope of Tara Hill and within the graveyard (ME031-033034-), with the church site (ME031-033071-) just to the S. Carved on the E face of an upright standing stone aligned N-S that has a rectangular cross-section (dims 0.58m x 0.26m; max. H 1.88m). The stone is dressed back on both sides as if it was meant to fit in an architectural structure (Andersen 1977, 152). The possible standing stone (ME031-033019-) is c. 2.5m to the ESE. It is described by Freitag (2004, 143) as a figure, ‘carved in high relief on lower half of stone, and because much worn difficult to interpret in detail. Big jug ears; facial features simple indentations. Arms in front of body, joined together in vaguely discernible gesture towards lower abdomen; left leg nearly straight, the other bent inwards.’

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/6qPHs

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of revision: 27 January 2015

References

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

Andersen, J. 1977 The Witch on the wall: medieval erotic sculpture in the British Isles. London. Allen and Unwin Ltd.

Nearby in the register

Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.

Sites and Monuments Record data: National Monuments Service, Government of Ireland, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Record text is reproduced unchanged. National Monuments Service, Government of Ireland · CC BY 4.0
All Sheela-na-gig in Meath All County Meath records All Ireland Heritage registers Historical markers (US)National Register of Historic Places (US)
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