Historical / Archaeological talk

A meeting of the Co. Roscommon Historical and Archaeological Society will take place at 8.00 p.m. on Tuesday, 8 May 2018, in the Percy French Hotel, Strokestown.

Following the meeting, at 8.30 p.m. (sharp), an illustrated lecture will be given by Gary Dempsey, of Roscommon town, on the curious phenomenon of ancient stone exhibitionist figures called Sheela-na-Gigs, particularly a group of them from a number of places in Co Roscommon.

Gary is the co-founder of Digital Heritage Age, a group of archaeologists promoting 3-D recording of cultural heritage in Ireland. Combining his background in Digital Heritage Studies and digital surveys, he has developed the Digital Counties Project which began with the Roscommon 3-D Project in 2015. This project aims to teach community groups how to record their local heritage using 3-D recording methods. Gary is the co-ordinator for the Digital Heritage Age Rathcroghan Legacy Project, which has discovered over 200 new historical monuments in Co. Roscommon, between 2016 and 2018. He is also the lead researcher for the Sheela-na-Gig 3-D project. Sheela-na-Gigs are a class of exhibitionist female figures, with little known about their original function. Gary hopes to demystify these often overlooked medieval carvings and discuss their connection to prominent medieval tribes, when he delivers his illustrated talk. During the event Gary will reveal details of a recently discovered Sheela-na-Gig in the west of Ireland and discuss its possible connection to the Rahara, Co. Roscommon example.

All welcome to this interesting lecture.

Members free. Non-members €5.

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