TreeAlive
‹ Sites and Monuments Record, Ireland

Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland

Exhibitionist figure

Burgesbeg, County Tipperary North, Ireland

Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1915) covering the location of Exhibitionist figure, Burgesbeg, County Tipperary North, with a pin at the register's coordinates
Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1915), covering this location. Courtesy of the National Library of Scotland. The pin is ours, placed from the register's coordinates.

The record

Townland
Burgesbeg
County
Tipperary North
Country
Ireland
Coordinates
52.81511, -8.33520
SMR number
TN025-038004-

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

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

4 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1790 map "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).

Historical maps covering this location

  • 1790 · Composite: Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1811 · Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1869 · Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1891 · Ireland 16 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

Get directions ↗

This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗

The National Monuments Service's description

Two carved sandstone figures (TN025-038002-/004-), originating from the old church (TN025-038001-) of Burgesbeg. The figure (TN025-038002-), on loan to the National Museum, was found in 1932 by a Mr Wallace inside the church at the base of the wall of the only remaining gable. The second figure from Burgesbeg appears to be the figure (OF005-004004-) now located in the store room at Clonmacnoise. Guest recorded that, 'Mr Wallace has informed me of the finding of two Sheela-na-gigs (TN025-038002-/004-) found lying outside the south wall of Burgesbeg churchyard (TN025-038003-) (Guest 1939, 48). This figure is currently kept in a store room adjoining the cathedral (OF005-004001-) at Clonmacnoise. Described by McMahon and Roberst as a figure with 'bent legs, bulbous eyes and clearly defined ribs. According to Weir there is 'a small protuberance, like an uvula [which is described as a 'hesitant penis'] immediately below what is a small deep hole which most likely represents the anus' (McMahon and Roberts 2001, 119). Recorded by Cherry as an exhibitionist figure that was mistakenly identified as a sheela-na-gig (Cherry 1992, 10). Cross-referenced with OF005-004004-.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 05 June 2012

References

Guest, E.M. 1939 A sheela-na-gig at Clonmacnoise. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 69, 48.

McMahon, J. and Roberts, J. 2001 The sheela-na-gigs of Ireland and Britain: the divine hag of the Christian celts - an illustrated guide. Cork. Mercier Press.

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
All Exhibitionist figure in Tipperary North All County Tipperary North records All Ireland Heritage registers Historical markers (US)National Register of Historic Places (US)
See your own family's places on a living map