OF016-015006- RAHAN DEMESNE - Sheela

3D ModelNoAI

Discovered in 1971 in the ruined walls of the church or possible tower house (OF016-015009-) in the cemetery to the S of the present Church of Ireland church which may have come out of an excavation for a burial N of and adjacent to the NW angle of the building (Newman Johnson 1971, 169-70). Described by Johnson as a figure carved in relief on a limestone block (H 0.37m; Wth 0.35m; D 0.25m) with flexed legs and large head with hair depicted by pitting and beading around the lip to indicate teeth. Described by Freitag (2004, 138) as ‘a singular V-shaped groove starting in forehead of Sheela runs across top of head through to rear of block, and is inclined towards back of stone. Big head with hair or tight-fitting cap, wavy lines across forehead, prominent brow ridges, broad wrinkled nose and beading round upper lip, possibly representing teeth. Powerful shoulders; both arms somewhat mutilated. V-shaped vulva with indented ring around it. Wide open thighs; leg bent and held back behind body by hands’.