Exhibitionist figure (present location) in Ballycloghduff (kilkenny West By., Grogan Ed)

A male exhibitionist figure cemented into the gate pillar of Ballycloghduff House carved in relief on a rectangular-shaped cut stone (dims. 0.6m x 0.3m) which came from the site of a medieval castle (WM030-130---) located 110m to the E of the present gateway. This carved stone was taken from the levelled castle site and inserted into gate pier by present landowners. A photograph taken by the landowner shows the figure carved in relief on a rectangular-shaped cut stone possibly a quoin or jamb stone from a window or doorway surround of the medieval castle. Figure was mistakenly identified as originally coming from the corn mill located 150m to the E (Weir 1980, 64-5). This figure was inserted into the gate pillar of Ballycloghduff House along with other stones from the levelled castle site by the present landowner. Ballycloghduff Castle is depicted on the 1659 Down Survey map where it is shown standing beside a medieval mill (WM030-131----) (NLI, MS 723-4). The present corn mill appears to be standing on the site of the medieval mill depicted on the Down Survey map. Described in 1973 as a carved figure 'built into a gate pier of Ballycloghduff House. The stone appears to be of limestone and was at one time painted over. The figure is cut in low relief and shows, head, arms, torso and legs. The feet are turned in towards each other. In the left hand the figure holds a key. The right hand is placed between the legs and may be holding the genitals' (SMR File 30/03/1973). Described by Weir (1980, 64-5) as a grotesque figure which has 'a large head and slightly bulbous, round eyes, with pupils. The feet are inturned on unsplayed legs. The mouth is large and the lips are parted to display sharp teeth. With his right hand he holds-or holds down-a very large penis, while in his left he clutches a large key to his chest'. In 1986 the figure was described as possessing a ‘large round head turned slightly to one side, with almond-shaped eyes under a heavy eyebrow ridge; the pupils are mere slits. The feet are in-turned, on unsplayed short straight legs, and the body cannot be distinguished from behind the two arms. The left hand carries a key pointing diagonally to the left shoulder. The right arm, rather longer, is parallel but passes downward and the hand clutches a large, downward pointing penis. There is no scrotum’ (Weir and Jerman 1986, 29). Recorded by Cherry as an exhibitionist figure that was mistakenly identified as a sheela-na-gig (Cherry 1992, 10). Described by McMahon and Roberts as a, ‘figure located 4.5 km east-north-east of Carne Castle, on the gatepost of a former mill a rare example of a male Sheela-na-Gig or Seán-na-Gig can be found. The right arm is holding an over-large downward pointing penis and the left arm reaches across his chest to rest underneath the armpit. A diamond or chevron is distinctly carved on the middle of the chest and unusually the figure has inward pointing feet’ (McMahon and Roberts 2001, 175). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 25 June 2015