Sheela na gigs are figurative carvings of naked women displaying an exaggerated vulva. They are architectural grotesques found throughout most of Europe on cathedrals, castles, and other buildings. The greatest concentrations can be found in Ireland, Great Britain, France and Spain, sometimes together with male figures. Ireland has the greatest number of surviving sheela na gig carvings; Joanne McMahon and Jack Roberts cite 101 examples in Ireland and 45 examples in Britain. One of the best examples may be found in the Round Tower at Rattoo, in County Kerry, Ireland. There is a replica of the Round Tower sheela na gig in the County Museum in Tralee town. Another well-known example may be seen at Kilpeck in Herefordshire, England.
Fethard is a small town in County Tipperary, Ireland. Dating to the Norman invasion of Ireland, the town's walls were first laid-out in the 13th century, with some sections of these defensive fortifications surviving today.
Boa Island is an island near the north shore of Lower Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is 25 km (16 mi) from Enniskillen town.
White Island is an island in Lower Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is situated in Castle Archdale Bay off the east shore of Lower Lough Erne. The ruins of an ancient church are found near the shore, built on the site of an earlier monastic settlement. It still has an intact arched Romanesque doorway. The Church and carved figures are State Care Historic Monuments sited in the townland of White Island, in Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area, at grid ref: H1753 6000. The rath, earthwork, and area surrounding the state care monument are Scheduled Historic Monuments, at grid ref: H1753 6000. The island is accessed by ferry from the marina in Castle Archdale Country Park, near Irvinestown. Location: OpenStreetMap Reference
Whittlesford is a village in Cambridgeshire, England, and also the name of an old hundred. The village is situated on the Granta branch of the River Cam, seven miles south of Cambridge. Whittlesford Parkway railway station serves the village.
Stoke-sub-Hamdon, also known as Stoke under Ham, is a large village and civil parish in the South Somerset district of Somerset, England. It is situated 5 miles (8 km) west of Yeovil, with which it is linked by the A3088 road. The parish is located near the River Parrett, and includes the village of East Stoke.
The Church of St Mary and St David is a Church of England parish church at Kilpeck in the English county of Herefordshire, about 5 miles from the border with Monmouthshire, Wales. Pevsner describes Kilpeck as "one of the most perfect Norman churches in England". Famous for its stone carvings, the church is a Grade I listed building.
Fiddington is a village and civil parish 2.5 miles (4 km) north-east of Nether Stowey, and 6 miles (10 km) north-west of Bridgwater in Somerset, England. The parish includes the hamlets of Bonson and Whitnell.
"Sheela-Na-Gig" is a song by English alternative rock singer-songwriter PJ Harvey, written solely by Harvey. The song was released as the second single from her debut studio album, Dry, in February 1992. The single was the second, and final, single from Dry and only single from the album to enter the charts in both the United Kingdom and United States. An accompanying music video, directed by Maria Mochnacz, was released alongside the single.
Kiltinan Castle is a castle near Fethard, County Tipperary, Ireland.
HMS Shelanagig, was a sloop of 16-guns purchased in the West Indies in 1780 for the Royal Navy. She was under the command of James Shepherd,, and her Second Lieutenant was Home Popham.
The Ralaghan idol, also known as the "Ralaghan figure", is a late Bronze Age anthropomorphic, carved wooden figure found in a bog in the townland of Ralaghan, County Cavan, Ireland. It is held by the National Museum of Ireland.
Roscommon County Museum is a museum dedicated to the history of County Roscommon, and is run by the County Roscommon Historical and Archaeological Society. The museum is housed in a former Presbyterian church in Roscommon town.
The Anglican Church of St Martin in Fiddington within the English county of Somerset dates from the 11th century and has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building.
Clomantagh Castle is a 15th-century tower house located near Freshford, County Kilkenny, in Ireland. Originally constructed in the 1430s, additional buildings and outbuildings were added in the subsequent centuries - including a connected 19th century farmhouse. Carvings on the castle's walls include a Sheela na gig relief.
Castlemagner is a village and townland in the Duhallow area of north-west County Cork, Ireland. Castlemagner is within the Cork North-West.
The Coolaghmore sheela na gig was discovered in 1975 at the 13th century church at Coolaghmore, County Kilkenny, Ireland during clearance work at the graveyard. It is thought to have been buried in the 19th century. According to local sources, it had been found in a well in Kyle previously and been brought to Coolaghmore Graveyard. It was then donated to Rothe House Museum via Kilkenny Archaeological Society where it is on display in a bricked up window in the shop of the first of the three houses since about 2012. The sites and monuments records number is KK019-026170.
The Liathmore Sheela-na-gig is part of the northern doorway at the larger church ruin at Liathmore monastic site in the townland of Leigh, Co. Tipperary. Its Sites and Monuments Record no. is TN042-055004.
The Kiltinan Church sheela-na-gig is a carved depiction of a nude woman exposing her vulva which used to be part of Kiltinan Church ruin near Fethard, County Tipperary as a quoin stone in the Southwestern corner of the church. However, it was stolen in 1990 and has not been located since. Fethard Historical Society issued a Wanted poster to help with the retrieval. The National Sites and Monuments no. is TS070-101003.
