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The word Sidhe is familiar to many who walk a spiritual path rooted in Ireland – but it’s often misunderstood. For some, it conjures images of glittering fairies with wings. For others, it holds a deeper, darker significance.
So what does the word Sidhe really mean? Where does the term come from, and how has its meaning shifted over time?
To explore this fully, we need to go back to the land itself, to the mounds and hills that dot the Irish countryside – and to the language that shaped and described them.
Because at its heart and soul, Sidhe is a word of place, of story, and of the invisible thread between our world and the Otherworld.
Sidhe as Sacred Mounds
Originally, Sidhe (pronounced “shee”) referred to ancient earthworks – burial mounds, passage tombs, and later, ringforts and raths. These places, such as Newgrange (Brú na Bóinne), the Cave at Cruachán, or Knocknarea, were built during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods, long before written language reached Ireland.
These structures were not only practical or ceremonial – they were [are] portals. To the ancient Irish, these hollow hills were seen as entranceways into An Saol Eile (the Otherworld), a parallel realm of gods, spirits, and mystery.
Over time, the term Sidhe came to carry this deeper spiritual and cultural meaning.
Whether constructed in prehistory or reused in medieval times, the Sidhe mounds maintained their reputation as liminal places – thresholds between this world and another.
A Shift in Meaning: From Place to People
As Irish mythology developed, especially with the arrival of the medieval manuscripts, the word Sidhe began to shift. It no longer referred only to the mounds themselves, but also to the beings who were believed to live within them.
The Tuatha Dé Danann, Ireland’s supernatural race of deities and heroes, were said to have retreated into the Sidhe mounds after their time ruling the surface world ended.
From then on, they were known as the Aos Sí – the people of the mounds. Later folklore continued this association, expanding the meaning of Sidhe to include all manner of spirits, fairies, and other Otherworldly beings.
This is where we get words like:
- Bean Sí (Banshee): A woman of the Sidhe, often associated with keening and death omens.
- Mná Sí: A general term for fairy women.
- Na Daoine Maithe: “The Good People” – a respectful euphemism for the Sidhe used to avoid offence.
This evolution shows a worldview in which the landscape is alive, animated by the spirits and entities who dwell within it – and beside it – and shape its stories.
The Language of the Sidhe
In Old and Middle Irish, we find various spellings for the word Sidhe: síd, síth, siodh, sídh, with or without fadas (accent marks). These variations reflect the fluidity of the language over time, as well as the shifting cultural context in which the term was used.
Modern Irish simplifies the spelling to Sí, which still holds both meanings – the mound and the Otherworld beings. You’ll see this reflected in dictionary entries for:
- Aos Sí – inhabitants of the fairy mounds
- Sióg – a modern diminutive form, often used for fairy-like creatures in children’s stories
That last one – sióg – represents the most dramatic change in tone. Under Victorian English influence, the fierce and fearsome Sidhe of Irish tradition were recast as tiny, harmless garden fairies.
The shift diluted the potency of the original belief and replaced it with a whimsical fantasy more palatable to English-speaking audiences.
Cue much confusion and misinformation about what the Sidhe really are… lasting to this day.
Sidhe as a Living Tradition
Despite these changes, the Sidhe have not disappeared. Their presence is still felt – especially in rural Ireland, where people might avoid cutting down lone hawthorn trees, building on certain sites, or walking across particular fields.
Even today, stories circulate about odd happenings near ancient mounds, unexplained illnesses, or encounters with ‘The Other Crowd‘.
This belief persists not just out of superstition, but from a cultural memory that still holds space for the unseen. Respect for the Sidhe remains part of everyday life for many of us here in Ireland – whether we’d be admitting it publicly or not.
It’s also important to understand that referring to them as “fairies” is not always accurate or respectful. That term, when used in its older Irish context, carried weight and danger.
In modern usage, it’s often lost that sharpness. That’s why names like Na Daoine Maithe or The Good Neighbours are used – to acknowledge power while keeping a safe distance.
Practical Exploration: Researching the Sidhe
If you’re drawn to this topic but not sure where to start, here’s a simple, respectful activity to ground your learning.
✍️ Research Exercise: Mapping a Sidhe Site
Goal: To deepen your understanding of local Irish landscape lore, with no spiritual contact involved.
Instructions:
- Pick a Region in Ireland you’re interested in – or where your family roots may lie if you’re part of the diaspora.
- Search for a Sidhe-related Site. Use resources like:
- www.duchas.ie – The National Folklore Collection
- Logainm.ie – The official database of Irish place names
- Heritage maps or archaeological databases
- An online library or county archive.
- Look for Names that include:
- Sí or Sidhe
- Ráth, Lios, Dún, or Cnoc (hill or fort)
- Create a Simple Profile of the site:
- Where is it located?
- What stories or folklore are associated with it?
- Are there any mentions of it in historical or oral tradition?
- Is it still avoided or respected today?
- Document It:
- Take notes in a journal or digital document.
- If you’re comfortable, create a simple sketch map or chart.
- Bonus: Share your findings with your learning community (if you’re a student of the Irish Pagan School – Here’s Our Private Community Link).
Reminder: Do not attempt to visit or disturb these places physically unless you know they are safe, publicly accessible, and not under protection. Respect the tradition of not interfering.
This type of research is a powerful way to connect with Irish Paganism through respectful knowledge. It honours the cultural tradition while keeping the emphasis on learning, observation, and reverence for the land and language.
Learn More at the Irish Pagan School
We offer in-depth classes on the Sidhe, Irish mythology, and cultural traditions – taught by experts including Lora O’Brien, Jon O’Sullivan, Morgan Daimler, and Dr. Gillian Kenny.
Explore the range of online courses and deepen your authentic understanding:
👉 Sidhe Classes Are Here
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. You have so much free information available about numerous topics. I am just starting to learn as much as I can about Irish folktales, legends and so forth. I see there is a lot to learn.