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Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland

Exhibitionist figure

Moygara, County Sligo, Ireland

The record

Townland
Moygara
County
Sligo
Country
Ireland
Latest-edition OS map
Not indicated
Coordinates
53.97164, -8.47474
SMR number
SL044-052002-

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

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).

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The National Monuments Service's description

In Moygara Castle (SL044-052001-). Listed in the SMR (1989) and in the RMP (1995) where it is classified as 'Sheela-na-gig' and 'Stone sculpture' respectively. According to Wakeman this carving was that of sheela-na-gig which was located on the barbican of Moygara Castle (SL044-052001-) (Wakeman 1880, 282; Guest 1936, 111). Described by Guest as a ‘limestone block, on the corbelled end of which the figure is rudely carved, now lies on the ground near the castle entrance’ (Guest 1936, 111). The carving displays certain affinities with exhibitionist figures though the nature of the remains hardly permits classification as such with any degree of certainty and some caution is necessary in proposing this interpretation (Cherry 1992, 9). Another keystone (SL044-052003-) lies nearby and it has an equally worn carving, possibly of two figures facing each other (SMR (1989) file).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien and Paul Walsh
Date of upload/revision: 23 May 2012

References

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

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

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
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