Fairy List
Aillan Mac Midhna
(Irish)
Extracted from Wentz's "Fairy Faith in the Celtic Land
And
that very night which followed the day on which the ollave to the
Tuatha De Danann came to them was the Eve of Samain. There was also
another of these fairy timpán-players called ‘the wondrous elfin man’,
‘Aillén mac Midhna of the Tuatha De Danann, that out of sídh
Finnachaidh to the northward used to come to Tara: the manner of his
coming being with a musical timpán in his hand, the which whenever any
heard he would at once sleep. Then, all being lulled thus, out of his
mouth Aillén would emit a blast of fire. It was on the solemn
Samain-Day (November Day) he came in every year, played his timpán, and
to the fairy music that he made all hands would fall asleep. With his
breath he used to blow up the flame and so, during a three-and-twenty
years’ spell, yearly burnt up Tara with all her gear.’ And it is said
that Finn, finally overcoming the magic of Aillén, slew him.
Perhaps in the first musician, Cascorach, though he is described as
the son of a Tuatha De Danann minstrel, we behold a mortal like one of
the many Irish pipers and musicians who used to go, or even go yet, to
the fairy-folk to be educated in the musical profession, and then come
back as the most marvellous players that ever were in Ireland; though
if Cascorach were once a mortal it seems that he has been quite
transformed in bodily nature so as to be really one of the Tuatha De
Danann himself. But Aillén mac Midhna is undoubtedly one of the mighty
‘gentry’ who could—as we heard from County Sligo—destroy half the human
race if they wished. Aillén visits Tara, the old psychic centre both
for Ireland’s high-kings and its Druids. He comes as it were against
the conquerors of his race, who in their neglectfulness no longer
render due worship and sacrifice on the Feast of Samain to the Tuatha
De Danann, the gods of the dead, at that time supreme; and then it is
that he works his magic against the royal palaces of the kings and
Druids on the ancient Hill. And to overcome the magic of Aillén and
slay him, that is, make it impossible for him to repeat his annual
visits to Tara, it required the might of the great hero Finn, who
himself was related to the same Sidhe race, for by a woman of the
Tuatha De Danann he had his famous son Ossian
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