Sheela-na-gig

The National Monuments Service's description

Discovered in 1971 in the ruined walls of the church or possible tower house (OF016-015009-) in the cemetery to the S of the present Church of Ireland church (OF016-015001-) which may have come out of an excavation for a burial N of and adjacent to the NW angle of the building (Newman Johnson 1971, 169-70). Described by Johnson as a figure carved in relief on a limestone block (H 0.37m; Wth 0.35m; D 0.25m) with flexed legs and large head with hair depicted by pitting and beading around the lip to indicate teeth. Described by Freitag (2004, 138) as 'a singular V-shaped groove starting in forehead of Sheela runs across top of head through to rear of block, and is inclined towards back of stone. Big head with hair or tight-fitting cap, wavy lines across forehead, prominent brow ridges, broad wrinkled nose and beading round upper lip, possibly representing teeth. Powerful shoulders; both arms somewhat mutilated. V-shaped vulva with indented ring around it. Wide open thighs; leg bent and held back behind body by hands'. The sheela-na-gig has been recently mounted on the wall inside the recently conserved C of I church under the guidance of the National Museum of Ireland.

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: 01 May 2014

References

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

Newman Johnson, D. 1971 Sheela-na-gig at Rahan, Co. Offaly. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 101, 169-70.