Stone head (present location)

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on the front wall of a Rathdrum House which has been recently plastered. As a result it was impossible to say if this carved head (OF009-029003-) was part of a Sheela-na-gig, however the farmer informed us that there was a carved figure on the exterior of the house.
The site of Rathdrum Castle (OF009-029001-) is situated on top of a circular mound which may been the remains of an Anglo-Norman motte (OF009-029002-). Rathdrum House which is located immediately to the SW of the castle site may have been built with stone taken from the levelled castle (OF009-029001-). A stone head incorporated into the fabric of the house may have originally come from the castle. This stone head (OF009-028----) was described in 1944 as 'over the door of Rathdrum House adjoining is a very crude oval head with features only just shown. The work seems so bad that I doubt if it is older than XVIIIc [18th century]; but it might have stood in the castle' (ITA Survey 1942, SMR File). This stone head was listed in the SMR as a possible sheela-na-gig that was originally incorporated into the fabric of Rathdrum Castle (SMR file). Today there is not enough of the carving visible to classify this carved head as a sheela-na-gig, although it is possible that this carving may originally have been carved as a sheela-na-gig.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload/revision: 22 December 2011