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Archaeologists uncover mystery of over-zealous priest, fairies and a buried pagan cross

Search is on for legendary Wicklow cross which vanished 60 years ago

By
KERRY O'SHEA,
IrishCentral Staff Writer
Published Tuesday, January 24, 2012, 8:28 AM
Updated Tuesday, January 24, 2012, 11:14 AM

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A dig is expected to begin in May to find the pagan cross with graphic carvings which displayed women and their “exaggerated genitalia.”
A dig is expected to begin in May to find the pagan cross with graphic carvings which displayed women and their “exaggerated genitalia.”
Photo by Google Images


A Wicklow community is on the search for a legendary pagan cross that vanished from their St. Patrick’s Church parish 60 years ago.

The Independent reports that there are disparaging rumors as to why the granite cross may have vanished. Some say that local residents believed the cross was attracting fairies. Others believe it was buried by then priest Fr Matthew Blake, mainly because of its graphic carvings which displayed women and their “exaggerated genitalia.”

The vanished cross was nearly forgotten about until it appeared in an old photo of the Church on the town’s Facebook page. Now, a team of local volunteers, led by their local war memorial committee, is on the search for the legendary cross.
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With permission from the clergy, a grounds survey was conducted around the church where the cross may have been buried. A dig is expected to begin in May.

Stan J O’Reilly, who is secretary of the town’s historical society, said of the missing cross, "I've asked a lot of people about it and the story is that the parish priest at the time, Fr Blake, saw something on it he did not like -- something like a nude figure, which was possibly a 'sheela na gig'.”

Believing that it is more than likely that the disappearance of the cross was Fr Blake’s doing, O’Reilly called Fr Blake a “very determined man.”

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10 Comments

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Paullus | Jan 26, 2012, 10:16 AM EST
it is only recently that I have been reading your pages and I am coming to the conclusion that you not sympathic to Roman Catholicism! Also, this is true of he many respondants to your news item regarding the Church! Apparently, you and them confuse its administrators with its doctrines, lumping them together and assigning Holy Mother Church to the ashheap along with its flawed 'ministers!' Then, again, if you don't believe, it is your loss; but if you do believe, show compassion and love to help it through its present crisis.
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culchiewoman | Jan 25, 2012, 11:12 AM EST
IrelandNorth: best. comment. ever.
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lee01702 | Jan 25, 2012, 09:32 AM EST
What was it made of? Metal, stone, or wood? I think there's a good chance he destroyed it. But I guess it's worth checking into!
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IrelandNorth | Jan 25, 2012, 08:20 AM EST
How did the priest know her genetalia were exaggerated? Was he double jobbing as a fly by night gynacologist, or was he just "fonda-da-wimmin?" Those Sheila-na-Gigs were ancient Irish pagan fertility symbols. They were probably put on cross over church doors by sureptious druid sculptures as to pull a fast one on the invading spiritually imperialist Holy Romans. A Sheila-na-Gig over a church door with dilated labia was symbolic of impregnation of Mother Church. The central aisle being an architectural fallopian tube. And the alter being the cervix. Boy were those early Irish christians sexually repressed.
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merefalow | Jan 24, 2012, 08:41 PM EST
attract fairys,dig it up,there,s hundreds over here,mostly on talk shows.
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CaptainCon | Jan 24, 2012, 03:42 PM EST
Quite possibly the exaggerated genetalia would be more likely- they would be fertility symbols similar to the North African examples but it would be strange to find them on a cross as rather obviously the cross would be a christian thang. Still- if such a thing exists it would possibly date back over a thousand years and we do know that the catholic church were fond of attempting to destroy evidence of prior belief systems.
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sidhemajik | Jan 24, 2012, 02:30 PM EST
Personally, I think it would be grand to attract the fairies. Don't se a problem with that at all. They are wonderful beings. Hope they find the cross and bring it home.
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Portia777 | Jan 24, 2012, 12:55 PM EST
Most churches in Eire are built on "pagan" sites and most Catholic riuals are based onthe ancient Goddess religion including the wearing of dresses. Sheelagh na Gighe represents the Goddess of life and death- all life comes through her and returns through her. Only those with perverted minds would see something Eve ill in her.
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proudirishlass | Jan 24, 2012, 11:56 AM EST
I can only agree with FR.BLAKES decision to bury it. Why was a pagan cross housed in the church????. All sorts of worrying thoughts are going through my mind right now!!!. I know that many practices of the church are based on pagan rituals, but having this type of cross would surely be thought as blasphemous. A museum would be a more appropriate place to house this piece of history.
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sirpeter | Jan 24, 2012, 11:43 AM EST
Sheela na gig (Celtic Ho*ker)LOL.Have a look at a pic in Wiki.When it came to the po*n industry the Celts were away ahead of their time.
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