Fin M'Coul: The Giant of Knockmany Hill

by Tomie dePaola

Fin's wife saves him from the most feared giant in Ireland. An ALA Notable Book.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Ireland, Fiction, Folk Tales, Irish Literature, Fantasy

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Tomie dePaola (pronounced Tommy da-POW-la) was best known for his books for children.

He had a five-decade writing and illustrating career during which he published more than 270 books, including 26 Fairmount Avenue, Strega Nona, and Meet the Barkers.

Tomie dePaola and his work have been recognized with the Caldecott Honor Award, the Newbery Honor Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and the New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award of Living Treasure.

Reviews

[Debbie W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why I chose to read this book:
Since reading the biography The Worlds of Tomie dePaola: The Art and Stories of the Legendary Artist and Author by Barbara Elleman, I've been trying to add more of Tomie dePaola's books to my reading repertoire!

Praises:
1. several years ago, I read a different version of this folktale/trickster tale to my then Grade 3 class in order to expose them to these particular genres, so I was pleasantly surprised to see this version with Tomie dePaola's unique illustrating-style; and,
2. I recently got the chance to read it aloud to a Grade 4 class while subbing, and here are their thoughts:
- "I liked the funny illustrations, especially when Fin was dressed like a baby!"
- "I liked the problem in the story."
- "I liked how the wife was smart and tricked the bad giant!"
- "It was a good folktale!"

Overall Thoughts:
Five stars overall from these experts! As for me, I highly recommend this book for ages 6 to 12! Another winner by Tomie dePaola!

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up with the Giant's Causeway down the street and heard this Irish fairytale many times. When I was in the library last week, this book caught my eye. When I saw that it was written by one of my favourite children's authors, I knew I had to read it.

I loved the creative problem-solving, the hidden fairies/leprechauns/animals dePaola hid on each page, and the anti-bullying message.

Great St. Patrick's Day read with little ones.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Featured in today's Grandma Reads session.

Fin M'Coul was a giant who lived in Ireland. . .in fact was one of those who helped build the Giant's Causeway.

Although he was a giant, there was a bigger, meaner giant who had it out for Fin. Luckily Fin had a wife who was clever and calm, and when he goes along with her plan, all is well.

Well-received by my crew who agreed that Oonagh saved the day!

4 stars for a clever conclusion based on brains rather than brawn.

[Malbadeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silly wimpy sissyninny of a giant is prodded into facing his foe the giant, Cucullin by his wife and thanks to her smarts he prevails.
It's the plot of many a sit com, I believe:

1 stupid husband (preferably fat) + 1 smart wife (preferably thin) = 1 hour of non-stop knee slapping laughter. Except that it's actually entertaining in this book.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

On my way to read the rest of Paola’s collection.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First let me note that if you want to read up more about this character of folklore you should use a more common rendition of his name such as Finn McCool or Fionn mac Cumhaill. If you believe the stories, he was singlehandedly responsible for much of the geography of Ireland and Scotland, in the same way that Paul Bunyan is responsible for the Great Lakes!

The story is hilarious, from Fin's worries to his tricky solution to his problem of not wanting to fight, and the illustrations only enhance the words.

I will note that, like most traditional stories, there is some gratuitous violence, but what can you do? That's how the story goes. Besides, most children are such bloodthirsty beasts that they're quite happy with fingers getting bitten off, so long as it's clearly over-the-top and unrealistic :)

However, if that's the sort of thing that concerns you then you should definitely read this book before you buy it.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irish American Heritage Month: book number 4.

The illustrations are humorous and fun.
“Details in the border art were inspired by early Irish jewelry and metalwork.”

This story is an Irish folktale, passed down from generation to generation.

In a land with fairies, leprechauns, and giants, lived Fin M’Coul with his wife, Oonagh. Fin worked with other giants to build the causeway between Ireland and Scotland. Fin built his home at the top of Knockmany Hill, so that he could spot Cucullin, a very large bully of a giant when he came for him. Cucullen had already given every other giant a good beating and now he was looking for Fin.

Oonagh did not want Fin to continue running from the Bully. She came up with a clever plan to trick Cucullin and cut off the source of his power.

Oonagh saved the day! Brains triumphed over brawn. Good triumphed over evil…. And the peaceful, kindhearted giants got their happily ever after.

[Ronda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fin M'Coul and his wife Oonagh live happy at the top of Knockmany Hill, their days filled with work--Fin working on the great causeway between Scotland and Ireland and Oonagh spinning and cooking and keeping house. All is well with these two friendly giants until Cucullin, the great bully, comes knocking on their door. Till now, Fin had been able to avoid the beating Cucullin is determined to give him, but he can't avoid him forever. Oonagh, with the aid of a fairy charm, sets about helping her husband outwit this giant bully--with riotous results.

Great to use around St. Patrick's day or for a series of readalouds featuring folk tales from different cultures. Also offers a good chance to introduce how legends can make for entertaining tales about how something is created. I showed the students a picture of the real Giant's Causeway and we talked about other geological formations that have fun legends associated with their beginnings. Be sure to take time to enjoy DePaola's illustrations--which are humorous in and of themselves--especially when you look closely at the details. Still wondering what the leprechauns do with those teeth. . . .

[Luisa Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually heard this tale from my tour guide when I was in Ireland, visiting the Giant's Causeway. Definitely a fun read of an old Irish folktale!

Ages: 4 - 8

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[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several years ago we read a different version of this story in the book, Mrs. McCool and the Giant Cuhullin: An Irish Tale by Jessica Souhami and so this story was very familiar to us. But we love Tomie dePaola's illustrations and we read as many of his stories as we can find at our local library. We thought it would be fun to read this in honor of St. Patrick's Day this year.

This version of the story has Mr. dePaola's inimitable illustrations and a short, entertaining narrative. I'm not sure which of the two stories we prefer, but we enjoyed reading them both together.

[♥♣Mary♦♠ If She So Pleases · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.
✨✨✨✨✨

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I learned how to read when I was a child. Or maybe I had it read to me so many times I memorized it. Either way it’s a lovely book filled with so many good memories, and it’ll always have a place on my bookshelf.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable book to read aloud for St. Patrick's Day. The story is about a giant who is afraid of the "neighborhood bully." His wife helps him by outsmarting the bully. The accompanying illustrations are charming!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute Irish tale. Hooray for all those women who help their husbands work out their problems!

Re-read in 2011 preschool.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The adults really enjoyed this one with gorgeous pics and a very clever leading lady!

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

My advanced students created a readers theater with this story and they had so much fun!! It is a fun story to create a readers theater with.

[Jessica Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite book from childhood, pretty much everything Tomie dePaola touches is perfection and this Irish folktale is no different. My 2 yr old requests it by name.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun for the older kids.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Irish folktales concerning the giant Fin M'Coul, and how his clever wife Oonagh saved him from fearsome fellow giant Cucullin, is retold in this picture book from celebrated American author/illustrator Tomie dePaola. Terrified that he too will be soundly beaten by Cucullin, Fin has been on the run for some time, always taking off when he hears the other giant is in the neighborhood. Finally, having had enough of this state of affairs, Oonagh convinces Fin to masquerade as his own baby son, and inviting their enemy in for some tea, puts the fear of Fin into him...

The story retold in Fin M'Coul: The Giant of Knockmany Hill is one I have seen presented in other picture books, notably in Robert Byrd's Finn MacCoul and His Fearless Wife: A Giant of a Tale from Ireland and in Jessica Souhami's Mrs. McCool and the Giant Cuhullin: An Irish Tale . As one can see from these various titles, the Anglicization of Irish mythological hero Fionn mac Cumhaill's name can vary, depending upon the source. The note at the rear of this telling informs us that dePaola chose the spelling favored by W.B. Yeats. Just as the spelling of the hero's name in English varies, so too does his nature, in Irish tradition. In ancient lore, he was a brave human warrior, leading the warrior-band known as the Fianna, and the Fenian Cycle of tales (an Fhiannaíocht) is devoted to his adventures. In later Irish folklore, Finn McCool is a giant, featuring in humorous rather than heroic tales, and often paired against Cucullin. He too is a giant in this later tradition, although in earlier lore the hero of the Ulster Cycle of tales (an Rúraíocht), including the great Irish epic, the Táin Bó Cúailnge (Cattle Raid of Cooley).

In any case, while I tend to prefer the heroic version of these two figures myself, their later incarnation as giants in humorous fare is quite popular, and one sees numerous tellings. This one was engaging, featuring an entertaining narrative, and dePaola's trademark illustrations. Although on the whole I think my favorite picture book version of this story is the Byrd, this is also fun, and is one I would recommend, particularly to dePaola fans.

[Tatiana Crichton]

We looked at this book in a read-aloud format during class, and I thought that that was a great way to introduce us to the legends/folklore section of the course. I think that that could be a fun way to introduce the same to my students. Or I could find a traditional tale that originated from a cultural group that was relevant to whatever content I would be introducing. This story specifically was quite fun, and it very clearly follows the outline of a traditional tale, and it would serve as a great example for students if we were learning how to write traditional tales. It's also a fun story, and the imagery in this book is quite charming. It is also, to my knowledge, culturally accurate, so that is always a good thing as well.

[Constance Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book is amazing and I love reading it to my students (and as a bedtime story) I simply can't give it 5 stars because it has nothing to do with any Fin M'Coul or Cuchulain mythology other than shared names. While that doesn't negatively impact the story in any way it does irk me. Using established mythological character names does nothing to improve this story and this story doesn't add to their canonical lore, so then why bother? Why not give them any other available Irish name?

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this story in audio format in the version of the Rabbit Ears book series but I'd never looked at someone else's illustrations of it before. I'm glad I saw these ones first. This version is much shorter than I'm familiar with and I would've loved to see an illustration of the pad of butter thrown into the valley that had a thumb and finger print on it. But otherwise, very fun sweet illustrated version in my opinion.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fin M'Coul was a giant who lived with his wife Oonagh on the top of Knockmany Hill. They lived there so that Fin would see when the mean and strongest giant, Cucullin, came after him. Cucullin beat all the giants except Fin, and he was determined to beat him, too. Fin's wife came up with a plan.
This funny story is an Irish fable about outwitting without a fight. Very well illustrated.

[Hannah Cussen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Genre: Traditional Literature
2nd-3rd grade
This book was humorous. I didn't love it, but it was still a good example of an Irish tale that was passed down from generation to generation. The illustrations in the book were colorful and kept me interested in the story. I thought it was funny the way that Fin M'Coul and his wife, Oonagh, tried to defeat the mean giant. They were creative in their approach. **Spoiler: I didn't like how Fin bit Cucullin's brass finger off in the end though.

[Kelsey Bielec]

This is an interesting retelling of the classic Irish folktale. The art is whimsical and sweet, bringing a childlike quality to all the characters, fitting into the story while still being frightening at times. The story has a lesson that would be interesting for students to look into and look for similarities in stories that they know.

[Stephanie Littig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fin was scared of the giant and always trying to outrun him and get home with his wife. When he realized he could not outrun him, his wife hatched a plan to trick the giant. It worked and the giant left Fin alone from there on out. Cute book. Gives a good lesson about treating others nicely.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are lovely (as usual) but the story is a bit confusing because this version seems to introduce the great Cú Chulainn as the giant adversary of Fin. All versions I’ve heard involved a different giant, typically Benandonner. Not sure why this one veers from that tradition.

[Jc · Rating 3 out of 5]

The lovable Irish giant of legends makes an appearance in this book.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice book about a man named Fin who doesn’t want the other giant. Fin’s wife is very supportive and helps him defeat the mean giant.

[Terry]

Read our review at the Reading Tub.