{{Short description|Fire-breathing entity in Irish mythology}} {{for|the hill fort in County Kildare|Dún Ailinne}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} [[File:Heroes of the dawn (1914) (14750481494).jpg|thumb|upright|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 in Irish mythology. He played the harp or timpán and would lull his victims into a deep sleep with his music.<ref name="MacKillop"/><ref name="slavin"/>
==Character== Called "the burner",<ref>{{cite book | title = Fionn Mac Cumhail: Celtic Myth in English Literature | first = James |last = MacKillop | date = 1986 | page = 15 | isbn = 9780815623533 | publisher = Syracuse University Press | quote = Aillén, "the Burner." According to the most frequently repeated story, Aillén harasses Cormac's court at Tara every November 1 at Samhain}}</ref> According to the most frequently repeated story, Aillén harasses Cormac's court at Tara every November 1 at Samhain.
==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.<ref name="slavin">{{cite book | title = The Book of Tara | first = Michael | last = Slavin | page = 64 | date = 1996 | publisher= Wolfhound Press | isbn = 9780863275074 | quote = 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 }}</ref> This only ended with the arrival of Fionn mac Cumhaill,<ref name="MacKillop">{{citation|chapter-url = https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095357590 | chapter = Aillén mac Midgna | title = A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology | first = James | last = MacKillop | publisher = Oxford University Press | isbn = 9780198609674 | date = 2004 | accessdate = 20 March 2024 }}</ref> 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.
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Celtic mythology (Fenian)}}
Category:Fenian Cycle Category:Fire gods Category:Tuatha Dé Danann
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