Sheela-na-gig in Abbeylara

Protruding from the inner face of the S wall of the crossing‑tower of the Cistercian abbey of Abbeylara (LF011‑036001‑), at a height of c. 2.5m, is a decorated figure carving in sandstone (dims. 0.37m x 0.22m). The carving has been interpreted as a very weathered representation of a sheela‑na‑gig (Guest 1936, 118; Andersen 1977, 144; McMahon and Roberts 2001, 111; Freitag 2004, 121; Roberts 2009, No. 84), although an alternative view has been proposed by Harnett (1954, 181) who suggested that it might be 'taken as a crude representation of a Virgin and Child' with the female genitalia being represented as an oval or lozenge-shaped shield in which is a figure in low relief of an infant. The condition of the carving makes it impossible to classify with any degree of certainty and the interpretation given is purely tentative. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 16 April 2012

Dateable to the medieval period, likely 12th to 14th century, the Sheela-na-gig figure is commonly associated with themes of fertility, childbirth, and the life cycle. Such carvings may have had apotropaic functions or symbolized the transition between sacred and profane in monastic contexts.