Aillen

For the hill fort in County Kildare, see Dún Ailinne.

Fionn mac Cumhaill fighting Aillen, illustration by Beatrice Elvery in Violet Russell's Heroes of the Dawn (1914)

Aillen or Áillen is an incendiary being and evil deity in Irish mythology. He played the harp or timpán and would lull his victims into a deep sleep with his music.

Character

Called "the burner", he is a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann who resides in Mag Mell, the underworld.

Deeds

According to The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn, he would burn Tara to the ground every year at Samhain with his fiery breath after lulling all the inhabitants to sleep with his music. This only ended with the arrival of Fionn mac Cumhaill, who inhaled the poison from his spear to keep himself awake and slew Aillen. The act won him the leadership of the Fianna.

Names

Áillen was also a popular personal name in ancient Ireland and was used by several personages. The fertility goddess Áine is also sometimes known by this name.