All suggested activities can be found via the link at the bottom of the page.  Have a read through of the story to see our suggestions for additional items you could gather to help bring the story to life.

 

Long ago, Giants lived in Ireland and they were always fighting to see who was strongest.

Using a resistance band, stretchy rope or even a pair of tights, test your strength with lots of 'gggrrrrs' and groan sounds!

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Now there was a Giant called Fionn Macoull and his wife Oona and they lived in a house on top of a mountain.

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One day Oona was planting flowers in her garden.

Activity - Flower Making

Pass around your flower, a picked flower, or perhaps enjoy a spot of gardening and plant your own flowers! ​

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Suddenly she heard Fionn shout: "Help, help, Cuchulainn's on his way.  He'll squash me flat as a cow pat if he finds me today."

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"Hush dear Fionn, I have a wonderful plan.  We'll soon be rid of Cuchuuuuuuulainn", whispered Oona.

Put your finger to your lips and say ssshhhhh.

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Oona put on her apron and baked some buns.

​Three had rocks in them,​ three hadn't.

Activity - Rocky Buns

Pass around the Rocky Buns - feel the different weights.

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"Quick Fionn, get in this basket and be a baby", Oona said.

Take turns being covered with the blanket and shaking the rattle.​

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There was a great loud roar and a banging at the door.

Activity - Ocean Drum

Depending on the tolerances of your group, bash your Ocean Drum or you could shake a thunder drum, roar loudly, knock loudly on table or door, stamp your feet and make lots of noise!

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And the mountains shook...and the house shook...and Fionn Macoull shook until all his bones rattled.

​Shake the rattle

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Oona opened the door and said: "Who are you? What do you want?"

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"My name it is Cuchulainn

I'm the strongest, I'm the best.

Put my magic finger to the test!"

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"Oh no you're not,

my husband Fionn is hard as rock.

If he were here when the north wind blew, 

he'd turn our house the other way."

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So Cuchulainn clicked his magic finger

once...

twice...

three times...

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He pulled and he pulled...and he pulled...

and he turned the house round.

Take hold of the resistance band, stretchy rope or tights and pull. If this is difficult, use hand under hand technique to guide movement.  If participants respond well to hand touch, gently pulling hands can be a lovely shared physical interaction.​

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"My name it is Cuchulainn

I'm the strongest, I'm the best.

Put my magic finger to the test!"

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Fionn's teeth chattered and his bones rattled

​Shake the rattle

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and Oona said "Oh no you're not,

my husband Fionn is hard as rock!

By lifting off the mountain top

he gets me water for my pot."

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So Cuchulainn clicked his magic finger

once...

twice...

three times...

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and he pushed and he pushed and he pushed

Take hold of the resistance band, stretchy rope or tights and lift up and up and up as if raising the top of the mountain. If this is difficult, use hand under hand technique to guide movement.  If participants are comfortable with touch, applying gentle but firm pressure to shoulders, chest or arms can offer feeling of resistance in a calming way. ​

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and out the water gushed.

Activity - Ocean Drum​​

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"My name it is Cuchulainn

I'm the strongest, I'm the best.

Put my magic finger to the test!"

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Fionn's teeth chattered and his bones rattled.

​Shake the rattle

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Oona put her hands on her hips:

"Oh are you now? Then here's my test,

Fionn's favourite buns, they are the best!"

Pass around heavy 'bun'

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So Cuchulainn bit...and he bit...and he bit so hard he broke his teeth.

If Fionn could eat these buns...my...he was very strong...there was no mistake!  And as for his baby...!

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Cuchulainn's teeth began to chatter and his bones began to rattle.

​Shake the rattle

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Oona played the drum and sang:

"There was a Giant called Fionn Macoull, Fionn Macoull, Fionn Macoull,

there was a Giant called Fionn Macoull

and he lived upon a mountain."

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Then Cuchulainn said in a very shaky voice:

"My...what a loud voice your baby has"

"My...what strong legs your baby has"

"My...what big teeth your baby has!"

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"All the better to eat one of my buns", said Oona.

"Here, feed this bun to my son Fionn."

Pass around a soft 'bun'

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Fionn opened his mouth and bit Cuchulainn's magic finger!

And Fionn pulled...and Cuchulainn pulled...

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and Fionn pulled...and Cuchulainn pulled...

Take hold of the resistance band, stretchy rope or tights and pull. Use hand under hand technique to guide movement if necessary or pull hands gently if participants respond well to hand touch.

If sharing with a group, have half the group pull for Fionn and the other half for Cuchulainn!

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and Fionn pulled HARDER.

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Cuchulainn's finger lost all of its magic and he got smaller...and smaller...and smaller.

Have everyone let go of the band, stretchy rope or tights.

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The wee giant called Cuchulainn ran and ran away down the mountain as was never seen again.

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Fionn and Oona laughed until the mountains sang:

"There was a Giant called Fionn Macoull, Fionn Macoull, Fionn Macoull,

there was a Giant called Fionn Macoull

and he lived upon a mountain."