Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Sheela-na-gig
Behy, County Sligo, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Behy
- County
- Sligo
- Country
- Ireland
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 54.12249, -8.43169
- SMR number
- SL034-001002-
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 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Built into the inside wall of a farm building immediately E of Behy Castle (SL034-001001-). A rectangular punch-dressed limestone block (0.85m x 0.45m) which was probably originally a quoin stone in the adjacent castle. Carved in low relief at one end of the stone is a full figure sheela-na-gig (L 0.35m), now painted pink, whilst at the other end is an 'X' picked out in three lines of pick marks. (O'Shaughnessy and Weaver 1992, 8; McMahon and Roberts 2001, 117-18)
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005).
Date of upload: 18 January 2008
References
McMahon, J. and Roberts, J. 2001 The Sheela-na-gigs of Ireland & Britain: the divine hag of the Christian Celts: an illustrated guide. Mercier Press, Cork.
O'Shaughnessy, J. and Weaver, M. 1992 Pretty in pink: a sheila-na-gig in Co. Sligo. Irish Association of Professional Archaeologists Newsletter 15, 8.
Nearby in the register
- Castle - tower houseunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.