For the hill fort in County Kildare, see Dún Ailinne.
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.[1][2]
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.[2] This only ended with the arrival of Fionn mac Cumhaill,[1] 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.[citation needed]
^ abSlavin, Michael (1996). The Book of Tara. Wolfhound Press. p. 64. ISBN9780863275074. Aillen of the Flaming Breath had each year caused chaos at the Assembly by burning Tara down. He came during the night and played such sweet music on his silver harp that everyone present fell into a deep slumber
^MacKillop, James (1986). Fionn Mac Cumhail: Celtic Myth in English Literature. Syracuse University Press. p. 15. ISBN9780815623533. Aillén, "the Burner." According to the most frequently repeated story, Aillén harasses Cormac's court at Tara every November 1 at Samhain