Aillén Mac Midgna (the “Burner”) was a fire breathing goblin and fairy musician of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Every Samhain (Halloween), he came to the Hill of Tara in County Meath — the seat of the Irish High Kings. He would play his magic timpdan (Irish harp) and lull every listener to sleep, before spewing flaming rocks from his mouth and burning the great halls of Tara to the ground.

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For 23 years, the great halls of Tara were rebuilt, and each year Aillén Mac Midgna cast his spell with his music before burning them down. Fionn MacCumhail was by now a young warrior. He asked the King of Ireland for permission to battle Aillén.

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Fionn used a magic spear to make himself immune to Aillén’s musical charms, before slaying him with the spear. In gratitude for his heroism, the High King of Ireland appointed Fionn as leader of Na Fianna.

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