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Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland

Sheela-na-gig

Ballynahinch (Ballygriffin Par.), County Tipperary South, Ireland

Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1915) covering the location of Sheela-na-gig, Ballynahinch (Ballygriffin Par.), County Tipperary South, 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
Ballynahinch (Ballygriffin Par.)
County
Tipperary South
Country
Ireland
First-edition OS map
Not indicated
Latest-edition OS map
Not indicated
Coordinates
52.51901, -7.94808
SMR number
TS060-059003-

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)
  • 1882 · Ireland (southern half). (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1891 · Ireland 16 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1904 · Sheet 13. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

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

The National Monuments Service's description

On the external E face of Ballynahinch tower house (TS060-059001-), situated c. 2m above and slightly to the N of the broken out doorway. The sheela-na-gig is carved in raised relief on a rectangular slab (H 0.55m). Described by Freitag (2004, 124) as having a 'big round head with eyes wide open; strong billowy lines across forehead; large jug ears. Lean rib, and no breasts seem to be indicated. Arms akimbo with hands joined above pudenda, shown as a deep round hole. Squatting position, knees bend, heels touching … and toes turned out'. According to White (1892, 8) the sheela-na-gig is 'said to be a carricature of the cook, in revenge for her incivility to the tradesmen employed in building the castle'.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 09 July 2014

References

White, J.D. 1892 Anthologia Tipperariensis. Cashel.

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

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 Sheela-na-gig in Tipperary South All County Tipperary South records All Ireland Heritage registers Historical markers (US)National Register of Historic Places (US)
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