Sheela-na-gig in Knock Killua

Sheela-na-gig which may have originally come from a medieval church (WM009-043001-) in the townland of Knock Killua. Freitag records that this sheela-na-gig is now located in the British Museum, London (Witt Collection) and was discovered in 1859 in a field at Chloran [Cloran], and supposed to have belonged to a church (WM009-043001-) nearby (Freitag 2004, 128). The sheela-na gig (dims. H 0.47m; Wth. 0.15m) was described by Freitag as a ‘roughly rectangular granite block, broken and repaired. Rectangular indentation (17.5cm x 6 cm) carved into back, possibly for propping up figure. Huge head with asymmetrical jug ears; ovoid eyes; large, crooked nose with nostrils and very pronounced nostril channels. Open mouth showing two rows of teeth. No neck; tiny round breasts. Arms in front of body with fingers of both hands inside huge oval vulva, sagging between splayed knees. Lower right leg missing, left foot turned outwards; very deep touch-hole underneath pudenda’ (Freitag 2004, 128). This figure was found in the Cloran [Chloran] area in 1859 and sent to Killua Castle, a 19th century castellated house whose owner was known as an eccentric and a collector. In 1869 the figure passed to the Witt Collection of the British Museum (http://www.irelands-sheelanagigs.org/archive/index-42071.php.html accessed 22 May 2012). The British Museum have mistakenly listed the provenance of the sheela-na-gig as from Chloran [Cloran], County Meath [Westmeath], dating from between the 11th-13th century AD http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pe_mla/s/sheela-na-gig.aspx accessed 22 May 2012). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 22 May 2012

A Sheela-na-gig is a type of medieval stone carving, often associated with ecclesiastical sites, typically depicting a female figure in a grotesque or comical manner with exaggerated sexual characteristics; its exact meaning is unclear, but it may relate to themes of fertility, childbirth, or the supernatural.