What is recorded here

Halfway up the eastern wall of Dunnaman Castle, a carved woman grabs her own vulva with long arms, her ribcage cut deep and an egg-shaped form tucked beneath her splayed legs. First described in 1865 as repulsive and strange, she still faces outward like a warning or a joke depending on who looks up. Perhaps she was made to frighten invaders, mark birth, or simply laugh at the men building the tower.

Sheela-na-gig visible in external face of E wall of Dunnaman Castle (LI030-012----) located off centre to S at second floor level. The carving was first recorded in 1865 when described as following; 'Inserted in the wall near one of these windows is an example of that class of sculptured stones, so strange in their character, representing the female figure in the most repulsive way. In the woodcut of the eastern front of the tower (vide next page), the position of the figure just noticed, and the two windows are shewn’ (Dunraven 1865, 198-201). The position of the sheela-na-gig was recorded in 2001 as being located halfway up the external face of E wall of tower house (LI030-012----) (McMahon and Roberts 2001, 129). Described by Freitag as a ‘large figure on slab and set within frame. Roundish head shows several billowy lines across forehead, oval eyes, wedge nose and open mouth. Extremely long arms, with open armpits, and hands passing beneath thighs to grab vulva. Flat breasts on heavily incised ribcase which extends over abdomen. Oval-shaped vulva, hanging between widely splayed legs. Large toes touching edge of frame, and between these, directly underneath vulva, there is an egg-shaped object’ (Freitag 2004, 131-2). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 04 March 2019

Dated to the medieval period, the Sheela-na-gig carving at Dunnaman Castle likely represents a female figure in a fertility or protective role, commonly associated with themes of birth, sexuality, and warding off evil. Such carvings are found across Ireland and Britain, often linked to ecclesiastical or domestic sites.

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