Sheela-na-gig (present location) in Kildare

A Sheela-na-gig carved on the underside of a capital on the tomb of Bishop Wellesley (d. 1539) (KD022-029034-) which was originally located (KD023-016002-), at Great Connell Priory (KD023-016----), and has since been re-erected in Kildare Cathedral (KD022-029005-)(Freitag 2004, 134). This Sheela-na-gig was described by Freitag (op. cit.) as being ‘carved on slab; head cut off; arms splayed out with hands joining over pudenda; legs widely splayed, knees bent’. See attached screenshot 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/6tEGq Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 24 May 2012

A Sheela-na-gig carving from the late medieval period, likely 15th or 16th century, associated with Great Connell Priory; its meaning is often linked to themes of fertility, childbirth, or supernatural protection in Irish tradition.