Sheela-na-gig in Kiltinan

Formerly located on a quoin stone, near the top of the W gable, on the SW corner of the nave of Kiltinan church (TS070-101001-). This sheela-na-gig was stolen in 1990 and its location is currently unknown. Another sheela-na-gig (TS070-101006-) is located on the fortified well house of Kiltinan castle (TS070-101004-) c. 300m to the E. The sheela-na-gig was in a horizontal position on the quoin stone. It is described by Freitag (2004, 136) as being ‘Carved on large, but very thin, rectangular limestone slab. Whole figure asymmetrical. Triangular, earless head with bulbous eyes, long nose and open mouth, set on thin, elongated neck. Odd droopy breasts, one with two nipples, dangling on big round belly. Left arm raised, bent at elbow, big hand with fingers spreading fanwise to touch left side of face. Right arm reaches down to genitals, with fingers reaching into open vulva, indicated by a deep straight groove. Legs wide apart, sharply bent at knee with feet turned outwards. Left leg raised higher’. See attached screenshot of 3D model of Sheela-na-gig created by Digital Heritage Age. 3D model can be accessed on the Sketchfab website at: https://skfb.ly/6tzpX Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 4 December 2012

Dateable to the medieval period, likely between the 11th and 14th centuries, the Sheela-na-gig is associated with themes of fertility, childbirth, or apotropaic symbolism. Such figures appear across Ireland and Britain, often linked to ecclesiastical sites, though their exact meaning remains debated.