To see a larger image and read more about any of the sheela-na-gigs, click on the thumbnail.
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Blackhall Castle |
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Rock of Cashel |
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Clonmacnoise |
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Doon |
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Fethard & Ballynahinch |
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Glendalough |
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Kildare Cathedral |
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Kilsarkan |
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Malahide Castle |
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Moate |
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Rahara |
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Rosnaree |
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Stepaside |
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Tara Hill |
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Kiltinan |
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National Museum |
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English Sheelas |
Whether you think these images powerful feminist icons, fertility symbols, or mysterious and terrifying representations of sins of the flesh, going on a sheela pilgrimage is a great way to meet loads of interesting people, and see sights you would never venture upon otherwise in Ireland.
I welcome comments, stories and the like. Please let me know if you have a sheela-na-gig page, and I will be happy to add it to my "links" section.
Since there are many great resources to locate sheelas available (please see my Bibliography for examples), I have not included a map or detailed description on how to find the sheelas. Most estimates of locations included are from Jorgen Anderson's and excellent book, The Witch on the Wall (which is, alas, out of print, but still extremely relevant, even 25 years after its publication). Locations for figures not found in Anderson's book are from Jack Roberts and Joanne McMahon's "Sheela-na Gigs of Britain and Ireland: An Illustrated Map/Guide". All sheela-na-gigs on my pages are in Ireland unless otherwise indicated.
© copyright 2000 Tara McLoughlin
