What is recorded here

Twenty-first century visitors may mock the label, but medieval carvers chose a visible woman because visibility itself was the warning. She stands draped, not hidden; named, not forgotten. The chamber is not a box of secrecy, it is a judge of whether you can be seen.

Found at site of Cistercian abbey of Tracton (CO099-04303-) and now in Cork Public Museum (CO074-169----). Sandstone block '141/2in in height, 12in in width and 8in in thickness' with curved section cut from lower left hand corner, which formed 'the side of a doorway or window, probably the latter' (O Ríordáin 1944, 56). Standing female figure, draped in cloak, carved on surface; triangular shaped face; hands hanging at sides of body; legs splayed exposing genital area described by Andersen (1977, 152) as 'very open and quaintly carved'. O Ríordáin (ibid, 57) noted 'the suggestion of a sword' on the figure and states that this (and the cloak) 'takes considerably from its hitherto accepted Sheela-na-Gig character'. No. 61 is Cherry (1992, 6) catalogue. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of revision: 16 December 2009 Revised by: Mary Tunney

Date likely to the medieval period, though influenced by earlier prehistoric traditions; the Sheela-na-gig motif is often associated with fertility, childbirth, or protective symbolism in Irish folklore and religious contexts.

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