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April 28, 2026
‘A constant quiet terror’: Getting lost in Irish folklore
Maria Lax’s images are inspired by the phenomenon of ‘stray sod’, in which patches of enchanted land are said to lead astray anyone who steps on them
TL;DR
- Irish folklore describes the 'stray sod' phenomenon, where enchanted earth disorients travelers.
- These incidents were often attributed to fairies or the power of the 'fóidín mearbhall' (stray sod).
- Experiences involve sudden unfamiliarity, erased landmarks, fog, and impassable natural features.
- Protagonists are ordinary individuals engaged in daily activities, often near the peripheries of villages and towns.
- Artist Maria Lax's project 'Stray Sod' explores this phenomenon through photography, inspired by accounts in the Irish National Archives.
- Lax connects the folklore to the fragility of memory in the digital age and the human quest for answers.
- She used analogue distortion in her images, treating them as a personal archive.
- Folklore is seen as a way to understand the history of everyday people, contrasting with written history's focus on power players.
- Finding one's way back often involves symbolic acts like turning clothing inside out, help from animals, or human connection.
- An anecdote describes successfully navigating by turning one's coat inside out.
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