süd

Síd is a term from Irish folklore with two related meanings: it can denote a fairy mound or fort, and it can refer to the fairy beings associated with those places. In this sense, síd (singular) and síde/sídhe (plural forms) encompass both the physical mounds in the landscape and the inhabitants believed to dwell within or beyond the visible world, often described as the sídhe or the otherworldly inhabitants.

In myth and legend, the síd are centers of contact between humans and a parallel realm sometimes called the Otherworld. The Tuatha Dé Danann, an ancient race in Irish myth, are frequently said to have retreated into the síd after being defeated by the Milesians, emerging later in folklore as the sídhe, or fairies. The síd thus serve both as homes and as portals to otherworldly power, enchantment, and danger.

The landscape is rich with features associated with the síd, including mounds, ringforts, and burial cairns. Many of these sites are still known in Irish tradition as fairy forts, and old customs advised respect for these places. Disturbing a síd—whether by excavation, construction, or injury—was believed to invite misfortune, curses, or fairy influence. Practices such as leaving offerings or performing rituals near a mound reflect attempts to appease or appease the inhabitants.

In modern contexts, síd remains a prominent motif in Irish folklore and literature, and the concept has influenced popular culture and scholarly study of folklore and the Irish landscape. While the belief in active fairies has waned, the síd continues as a cultural symbol of Ireland’s mythic past.