Discover Alone, back to main map

Sheela-na-gig in Tullovin

Sheela-na-gig

What is recorded here

Horizontal sheela-na-gig carved onto the external face of a quoin high up on the southeast angle of a Tullovin tower house. Freitag noted her left arm raised to a head-dress, long torso with small breasts, ribs and navel, and a contorted right arm passing under a widely splayed thigh. She hangs above the valley like a warning or a laugh, exposing what the tower tried to keep private.
Horizontal sheela-na-gig carved onto the external face of a quoin high up on SE angle of tower house (LI031-048----) (Guest 1936, 112; McMahon and Roberts 2001, 153-4). Described by Freitag as a sheela-na-gig ‘carved in high relief on corner stone. Left arm raised to head, depicted with some kind of head-dress and arresting facial features. Long torso with small breasts, ribs and navel; very long, contorted right arm passes under thigh with at least two fingers touching slit-vulva. Legs widely splayed; big toes turned outwards’ (Freitag 2004, 144). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 28 May 2012.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.

What survives
Recorded monument

Places near here

Add to this placeAdd a picture Comment or add a tip

Explore 1,118,481 places