Aillen

Family: Tuatha de Danaan · Role: chief of the Sidhe · First appears: The Fianna · Finn, Son of Cumhal · The Coming of Finn · Part 2

For nine years at Samhain, Aillen, son of Midhna, came from Sidhe Finnachaidh and burned Teamhair. Playing music of the Sidhe, he lulled its people to sleep before sending flame from his mouth. When Finn undertook to guard Teamhair through the night, he raised his cloak against the fire and pursued Aillen to Sidhe Finnachaidh.

There, Finn killed him with the Spear of Fiacha, which Ilbrec later gave to Caoilte, explaining that it was the spear “with that Finn made an end of Aillen, son of Midhna”.

Relationship record

Life events

• Aillen repeatedly burned Teamhair after lulling its people to sleep with Sidhe music.(The Fianna · Finn, Son of Cumhal · The Coming of Finn · Part 2 · 📍 Teamhair)
  • “Every year, now, at Samhain time, for nine years, there had come a man of the Tuatha de Danaan out of Sidhe Finnachaidh in the north, and had burned up Teamhair.”
• Finn undertakes to keep Teamhair safe through the night.(The Fianna · Finn, Son of Cumhal · The Coming of Finn · Part 3 · 📍 Teamhair)
  • With: Finn
  • “So they gave their pledges, and Finn took in hand to keep Teamhair safe till the breaking of day on the morrow.”
• Finn kills Aillen with the spear as Aillen enters the door.(The Fianna · Finn, Son of Cumhal · The Coming of Finn · Part 3 · 📍 Sidhe Finnachaidh)
  • With: Finn
  • “And Aillen went on playing his little harp, till he had put every one in their sleep as he was used; and then he let a flame of fire out from his mouth to burn Teamhair. And Finn held up his fringed crimson cloak against the flame, and it fell down through the air and went into the ground, bringing the four-folded cloak with it deep into the earth.”
• Ilbrec gives Caoilte the Spear of Fiacha, used by Finn to kill Aillen.(The Fianna · Huntings and Enchantments · Ilbrec of Ess Ruadh · Part 1)
  • With: Ilbrec Caoilte Fiacha Congha Finn Midhna
  • “Then Ilbrec took down a sharp spear, having thirty rivets of gold in it, from its place, and he said: ‘That is the Spear of Fiacha, son of Congha, and it is with that Finn made an end of Aillen, son of Midhna, that used to burn Teamhair. And keep it beside you now, Caoilte,’ he said, ‘till we see will Lir come to avenge his bird on us.’”

The Fianna · Finn, Son of Cumhal · The Coming of Finn · Part 2

• parent: Midhna “Aillen, son of Midhna, his name was, and it is the way he used to come, playing music of the Sidhe, and all the people that heard it would fall asleep.”

The Fianna · Finn, Son of Cumhal · The Coming of Finn · Part 3

• parent: Midhna “And Aillen's mother came to where his body was lying, and there was great grief on her, and she made this complaint:--”
• enemies with Finn “And Aillen went on playing his little harp, till he had put every one in their sleep as he was used; and then he let a flame of fire out from his mouth to burn Teamhair.”

The Fianna · Huntings and Enchantments · Ilbrec of Ess Ruadh · Part 1

• parent: Midhna “Then Ilbrec took down a sharp spear, having thirty rivets of gold in it, from its place, and he said: “That is the Spear of Fiacha, son of Congha, and it is with that Finn made an end of Aillen, son of Midhna, that used to burn Teamhair.”
• enemies with Finn “That is the Spear of Fiacha, son of Congha, and it is with that Finn made an end of Aillen, son of Midhna, that used to burn Teamhair.”

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Extracted from the original text of Gods and Fighting Men. Made with Rho MD.