What is recorded here

Ten metres above the ground on a tower house in County Laois, a menacing woman stares down with slanted eyes and a v-shaped mouth. Her stumpy legs bend outward and her deep vulva marks the stone, forcing whoever built the tower to admit that birth and danger belong inside the wall rather than hidden from it.

The sheela-na-gig is carved in relief on the SW external face of the W angle of the tower house (LA015-017001-) between the second and third floor. It is carved in relief on an L-shaped sandstone quoin stone approx. 10m above ground level (Feehan and Cunningham 1978, 117). The figures feet are turned outward and pointed, the legs are short and stumpy, the knees are bent outwards. The right hand appears to rest on the hip while the left arm lies on the thigh, with bent elbows. The head is pear-shaped with pointed chin and the face bears a menacing expression with v-shaped mouth and slanted eyes. The ears are prominent while the vulva is represented by a deep depression (Feehan and Cunningham 1978, 117-18). See attached screenshots 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/6tCuV The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

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