Ailill Finn

Also known as: Ailill the Fair-haired · First appears: The Driving of the Cattle of Flidais · Literal Translation · Part 1

In Kerry, Flidais was the wife of Ailill Finn, also called Ailill the Fair-haired. At a ford, he and Dubhtach wounded each other: Dubhtach pierced Ailill’s thighs with a spear, and Ailill drove a javelin through Dubhtach. When Fergus mac Rog’s men fled, Ailill pursued them, killing twenty.

At the castle, Ailill mac Mata came seeking a peaceful meeting, hoping to save Fergus and make peace with Ailill Finn. Instead, the Ulstermen killed Ailill Finn and seven hundred warriors, including thirty of his sons; they laid waste the castle and took Flidais away.

Relationship record

Life events

• Flidais was the wife of Ailill Finn.(The Driving of the Cattle of Flidais · Literal Translation · Part 1 · 📍 Kerry)
  • With: Flidais
  • “Flidais was the wife of Ailill Finn (the Fair-haired) in the district of Kerry.”
• Dubhtach and Ailill Finn wounded each other in combat.(The Driving of the Cattle of Flidais · Literal Translation · Part 1 · 📍 a ford)
  • With: Dubhtach
  • “Dubhtach thrust a spear through Ailill so that it went through his two thighs. He (Ailill) hurled a javelin at Dubhtach, so that he drove the spear right through him, (so that it came out) on the other side.”
• Ailill Finn killed twenty of Fergus's men as they fled.(The Driving of the Cattle of Flidais · Literal Translation · Part 1)
  • “Fergus' people took to flight; Ailill pursues them. There remain (slain) by him twenty men of them.”
• Ailill mac Mata came seeking a peaceful meeting and peace with Ailill Finn.(The Driving of the Cattle of Flidais · Literal Translation · Part 1 · 📍 the castle)
  • With: Ailill
  • “It was, however, for a peaceful meeting that Ailill mac Mata had come to Ailill the Fair-haired, both that he might save Fergus, as it was right he should, and that he might afterwards make peace with him (Ailill Fair haired), according to the will of the lords of Connaught.”
• The Ulstermen killed Ailill Finn and destroyed the castle.(The Driving of the Cattle of Flidais · Literal Translation · Part 1 · 📍 the castle)
  • With: Flidais
  • “the Ulstermen slay seven hundred warriors there in the castle with Ailill the Fair-Haired and thirty of his sons”
• The victorious forces took Flidais from the castle.(The Driving of the Cattle of Flidais · Literal Translation · Part 1 · 📍 the castle)
  • With: Flidais
  • “and they laid waste the castle, and take Flidais out of the castle with them”

The Driving of the Cattle of Flidais · Literal Translation · Part 1

• married with Flidais “Flidais was the wife of Ailill Finn (the Fair-haired) in the district of Kerry.”
• enemies with Ailill “Then the men attack him (Ailill Finn): while they are storming the castle, and they could get no hold on him, a full week long went it thus with them.”
• with Dubhtach (Dubhtach wounds Ailill Finn in combat.) “Dubhtach thrust a spear through Ailill so that it went through his two thighs.”
• with Dubhtach (Ailill Finn wounds Dubhtach in combat.) “He (Ailill) hurled a javelin at Dubhtach, so that he drove the spear right through him, (so that it came out) on the other side.”
• with Ailill (Ailill mac Mata seeks a peaceful meeting and reconciliation.) “It was, however, for a peaceful meeting that Ailill mac Mata had come to Ailill the Fair-haired, both that he might save Fergus, as it was right he should, and that he might afterwards make peace with him (Ailill Fair haired), according to the will of the lords of Connaught.”
• with Fergus mac Rog (Ailill Finn attacks Fergus during the battle.) “Ailill struck his spear upon this so that it was forced right through it.”
• with Fergus mac Rog (Fergus leads an expedition to Ailill Finn's territory.) “Then Fergus set out thereon, in number thirty men; the two Ferguses (i.e. Fergus mac Rog, and Fergus mac Oen-lama) and Dubhtach; till they were at the Ford of Fenna in the north of the land of Kerry.”

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Extracted from the original text of Heroic Romances of Ireland. Made with Rho MD.