sheela na gig,Irish Sheela na Gigs, shee lena gig


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Sheela Na Gig - Pagan Spirit Si Le na Gig She La Na Gig Sheela na Gig

Sheela na Gigs are stone carvings depicting a naked female exhibiting herself in an explicit and provocative way. These images are found throughout Ireland and in parts of England. Theories abound as to their meaning and dating, with a consensus almost being arrived at which agrees that they appear mostly on churches and castles built after the 12th century and are possibly a continuation of a much earlier pagan custom. There are many opinions as to what the figures represent and their raison d'etre. These opinions are as diverse as the shapes and styles of the Sheelas themselves and include Pagan Spirit, Mother Earth, Earth Goddess, Pagan Goddess, good luck symbols, fertility symbols, figures to celebrate womanhood etc. It is widely believed that they repel evil spirits.

In spite of the very biased and inaccurate article on Wikipedia regarding the derivation of the name Sheela na Gig......the name is Irish and their is no consistent name for these carvings in the English language. Some misguided researchers almost stand on their heads rather than acknowledge that the name is Irish. The name is explained below. It is worth noting, that the earliest mention of Sheela na Gig was at Drury Lane in 1780 when an Irish lilt named 'She La Na Gig' was performed. (Important evidence from Irish Scholar regarding meaning of Sidhe - pronounced She)

See: http://colonialdancing.org/Easmes/Source6/S065781.htm
for first recorded use of the term Sheela na Gig or She la na Gig

Sheela Na Gig in bronze. Created at ballybegvillage.com That Tickles!

Photo of Ballynahinch Sheela Na Gig on left.

©Robin Madsen

Bronze coloured Brooch/Pin Sheela na Gig

Take me to your store!

A variation on the 'repelling evil spirits' theory and one which I like goes as follows.

The Sheela na Gig was carved and placed on the outside of buildings such as castles and churches to attract evil spirits away from the castle and church doors and thus prevent the evil spirits from entering the buildings.

In medieval eyes, nakedness and sexuality were seen as evil and were appropriately represented by Sheelas (This reflects stories of Eve tempting Adam in the Garden of Paradise).

However, Sheelas have taken on a new meaning in today's world and now represent liberated women. Sheela na Gigs are seen through modern eyes as being 'defiant' rather than 'deviant'.

There are many wonderful websites dedicated to Sheela na Gigs. A few of those deserve particular mention here, not least for their wonderful photographs. See links at bottom of page.

Ballycotton Ardmore Thatching Ireland Irish Cottages Irish Family Research Irish Census Irish Sheep Insurance for Thatched Houses List of Irish Thatchers Painting in Ireland Irish Cows Irish Christmas 1877 Home Archaeology Newgrange Old Newgrange Photos Ogham Stones Placenames Ireland PortalTomb Poulnabrone Irish Christmas Fashion-Feast-Famine Genealogy Civil Records Church Records ballybegvillagesitemap Tower Houses Contact Us St. Patrick's Confession Ballybeg Bulletin Board Ballybeg Village Ballymote Cruising in Ireland Bronze Age Bronze Cottage Church Records Ireland Irish Holiday Cottages Irish Tower House Irish Baby Names Car Rentals Iron Age Land Division Explained Large Bronze Tower House Links Open Fire Old Irish Farmhouse Sheela na Gig Staigue Antiquarian Photos Thatching Ancient Tombs Tower-House-Cross-Section

Interpreting 'Sheela Na Gig'

Here is the real meaning of the name Sheela Na Gig. It is a fact that placenames in Ireland are almost always corruptions of Gaelic words and one has to listen to the placename rather than read it in order to understand it. It is necessary to hear the name as our ancestors heard it. One of the foremost authorities on placenames in Ireland is Joyce and anyone with an interest in Irish placenames should make an effort to get a copy of his book.

So, following this logic of listening to names rather than reading them, a Gaelic speaker can hear the words 'Sheela na Gig' as being - in Gaelic - Sidhe Lena Gig. This is pronounced 'Shee Lena Gig'. Sidhe is the Gaelic for Fairy Woman. Lena is the Gaelic for 'with her' and Gig is the Gaelic for sexual appendage. So.... Sheela na Gig is 'Sidhe Lena Gig' and means Fairy Woman with her sexual appendage.

P.W. Joyce, the foremost scholar in Irish placenames has this to say on page 184, vol. 1, Irish Names of Places, 1901:

"Sidh [pronounced Shee] as we have seen, was originally applied to a fairy palace and it was afterwards transferred to the hill, and ultimately to the fairies themselves; but this last transition must have begun at a very early period, for we find it expressly stated in the Leabhar na hUidhre [early 12th century] , that the ignorant call the fairies Side [plural]. At the present day, the word generally signifies a fairy..."

Here's a Sheela from my collection.

Ballybeg Sheela na Gig is based on the Sheela from Ballynahinch Castle in Co. Tipperary.

2.25 x 3.25 x 1inch.


Sheela Na Gig		Sheela Na Gig