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This granite stone head (overall dims. L 044m x Wth 0.32m; D 0.24m), currently located in Carlow County Museum, was discovered lying in Ballinacarrig graveyard (CW007-025002-) which is c. 3km SW of Carlow town. The outline of the ruined medieval church (CW007-025----) is visible within the graveyard. The head, carved in high relief, narrows towards the chin (Wth 0.05m). It has round bulging eyes, a pronounced flat nose with splays towards the end and the lips are well defined. At the top of the head there is a circular bowl (diam. 0.13m; D 0.12m) with a hole at the base and a raised rim (T 0.04m). Five vertical lines within the bowl at the top of the forehead probably represent hair. It is possible that it functioned as an ornate water spout, though it is unclear how it would have been fixed to a wall unless the stone extended further back and this portion has been broken off, though there is no obvious break. The style of the carving suggests a 12th-century date.
Compiled by: Jean Farrelly
Date of upload: 23 June 2015
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