Stone sculpture

The National Monuments Service's description

On the E wall of the 13th-century keep of Cahir Castle (TS075-048001-), c. 1 N of the S gateway between the middle and inner ward. This is an unusual incised carving depicting three interlocking heads, two upside down on either side of a central figure. The incised carving was noted by Holland (1988, 14-17). It is carved onto a flat-surface of a block of limestone (dims. 0.39m x 0.32m; H above ground level 1.4m) which appears to have been cut or broken and re-used in the masonry of the keep. There is a bad crack through the stone and several other small cracks. All the heads are bald, with 'jug' ears positioned high in the head, and have round eyes with a central dot for the pupil, eye-brows, a nose and a horizontal line outlining the mouth. The central head is quite disfigured, though it is the only one which has a surviving clearly defined neck, shoulders and arms, heavily incised, and ribs lightly incised.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 17 December 2012

References

Holland, P. 1988 A carving in Cahir Castle, Co. Tipperary. North Munster Antiquarian Journal 30, 14-18.