Sheela-na-gig

The National Monuments Service's description

Now located in the National Museum of Ireland (Cherry 1992, 6); believed to have come from E gable of old church (OF039-003004-) of St Kieran (now destroyed); illustrated in Dublin Penny Journal Vol. 3 in 1834-35 where it is described as located on the `eastern gable of the church is ornamented with an old freestone window-frame, at some distance from which there also projects from the wall a grotesque figure in freestone about one and a half foot long’ (Guest 1936, 114) Limestone block (0.26m x 0.26 x 0.4m) with grotesque figure carved out in raised relief (0.1m) on one side. Female figure displays large head with deep rounded eyes, slightly grooved cheeks, flat nose and round open mouth with small ears carved in relief. Two deep holes on top of flat head with small hole under chin. Chest shows rib-cage with pointed breasts; legs are splayed with arms pulling vulva apart. Seven curious holes around the genital area with large hole at base of stone.
Described by Freitag as ‘one of the best known Irish Sheelas because of ring of holes drilled around genital area and additional holes in throat and top of head, suggestive of having served some pagan ritualistic function. Round head with ears, hollow ovoid eyes, small nose, round, wide open mouth and striations on cheeks. Heavy shoulders, flat pointy breasts resting on deeply incised ribcase. Seated on her haunches with knees pulled up and splayed, held back by elbows. Right hand close to pudenda, fingers pointing downwards, left hand holds round object at height of pudenda. Feet turned outwards’ (Freitag 2004, 141).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien.

Date of upload/revision: 05 June 2012

References

Guest, E.M. 1936 Irish sheela na gigs in 1935. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 66, 107-29.

Cherry, S. 1992 A guide to sheela na gigs. Dublin. National Museum of Ireland.

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