Aisling is the deuteragonist of the 2009 Cartoon Saloon animated feature film, The Secret of Kells. She is a fairy-like creature with magical abilities who has lived for hundreds of years. She changes forms but switches primarily between wolf and girl. In the past, Aisling lost her people many years ago when Crom Cruach killed them.
She is voiced by Christen Mooney.
Appearances[]
The Secret of Kells[]
Aisling lived alone in the forest surrounding Kells, until Brendan entered the forest in search of ingredients for ink. She watched him from a hidden place, but as Wolves attacked Brendan, she called them back and talked with the boy. She agreed to show him where he could find what he was looking for, but made him promise that he and Pangur Ban, the cat who accompanied him, would never again enter the forest. Aisling led Brendan to the top of a huge old oak tree, where she told him her name. On the way back she lost Brendan accidentally, finding him near Crom Cruach's dwelling. Despite her warnings not to speak his name, Brendan called Crom several times, still believing that he was not real, which resulted in branches of darkness emerging from the open entrance of the cave. Aisling pushed against a statue standing beside the entrance, making it collapse and block the cave.
Later, when Abbot Cellach locked Brendan into his room, Aisling turned Pangur Ban into a spirit-like creature to slip through the keyhole into the tower and free Brendan, which she used a magical song to do. After breaking Brendan out of his room, the pair retreat to the forest where Brendan explains to Aisling why he was locked up. He says that he must retrieve Crom's other eye. A desperate Aisling begs him not to go, saying that Crom will kill him just as he killed her mother and her people. However, Brendan assures Aisling that it is necessary for completing the book, and that without the eye it will be impossible.
The two then go to Crom's cave where Aisling seemingly sacrifices herself so that Brendan can get in, telling him to complete the book and "turn darkness into light." Later, when Brendan returns to where he last saw her, all he finds is his cape and flowers sprouting out of the ground. Aisling was not seen afterwards except in her wolf form, when she saves both Brendan and Brother Aidan from the Vikings.
Years later, she help guides an adult Brendan back to Kells, seemingly happy that he'd returned. She is not seen again for the reminder of the film.
Song of the Sea[]
Aisling makes a brief cameo appearance in Song of the Sea, when Ben and Saoirse board a bus full of Trick-O'-Treaters. Aisling could be seen siting on the left side.
Quotes[]
"Well, you can go right back where you came from. If you don't, I'll make the wolves get you. Ruurghh!"
"Wait until you see the rest of my forest."
"Brendan? You can visit the forest again, if you like. And Pangur can come too."
Trivia[]
- Aisling, the fairy girl, is named after a 17th-century genre of Irish poetry. Aisling is Irish for "dream vision." In an Aisling poem, the poet would describe receiving a vision of the spirit of Ireland, who appeared to him in the form of a beautiful young woman. The female spirit of Ireland would inspire the poet to write about his homeland, and serve as his guide in creating the poem (much as Aisling serves as Brendan's guide in the film).
- Aisling is the first and only animated character voiced by Christen Mooney.
- Aisling is the only Secret of Kells character to appear in Academy Awards.