like Achilles in Greek mythology, could be harmed by no weapon and yet had a weak spot and so was slain by Art during his quest for the beautiful Delbchaem. Ailill Olom of Munster raped the love goddess Áine, who had her revenge and slew him. Finally, there was the Ulster king Ailill, who was father of Étain Echraide.

Áille

[I] Wife of Meargach of the Green Spears, who was slain by Oscar at the battle of Cnoc-an-Air. In revenge Áille had her druid, Fer Gruadh, drug and capture Fionn Mac Cumhail, Oscar’s grandfather. The Fianna pursued Fer Gruadh, but the druid placed them all under his control until Conan tricked him into releasing them. Oscar killed him and Áille committed suicide.

Aillén

[I] Son of Midhna. A malevolent Otherworld creature that came out of the cave of Cruach each year at the feast of Samhain and burned down the royal residence at Tara after lulling the defenders asleep with enchanted music. Fionn Mac Cumhail was able to resist the music by pressing his spear to his forehead. Fionn then drove off the beast and beheaded it. In one of the several variants, Amairgen is given as the slayer of the beast.

Aillinn

[I] Also Ailinn. The daughter of Laoghaire Mac Fergus Fairge (in another version, the daughter of Eoghan Mac Daithi). The granddaughter of the king of Leinster who falls in love with Baile, son of Buain and heir to the kingdom of Ulster. Ulster and Leinster were deadly enemies, and here we have a “Romeo and Juliet” tragedy. Aillinn and Baile arranged to meet on a shore near Dun Dealgan (Dundalk). Baile reached the appointed place first. A stranger approached and told him that Aillinn had died when she was prevented from coming to the meeting place. Baile dies from a broken heart. The stranger then appears to Aillinn and tells her of Baile’s own death. She dies of grief. We are not told who the malevolent stranger is apart from the fact that he is one of the gods. Baile is buried at Traigh mBaile (Baile’s Strand) and a yew tree grows from his grave; from Aillinn’s grave grows an apple tree. The poets of Ulster and Leinster cut branches from the trees and carved the story of the tragedy in Ogham on the wands made from the branches. According to the end of the story, 200 years later, when Art the Lonely was High King, the Ogham wands were gathered from Ulster and Leinster and taken to the Tech Screpta, or library, at Tara. As the wands were put into the library they sprang together and could not be separated.