Cathal the Giant Killer and the Dun Shaggy Filly

Edith Fowke is a professor emeritus at York University and author of the
recently published Canadian Folklore: Perspectives on Canadian Culture.

Mary Downie retells an old Gaelic legend from the Scottish Highlands.
This is a thoroughly delightful tale of Cathal O’Cruachan, who saves
his wife from the Giant of Hunting-Hill with the aid of the Dog of the
Great Mull, the Falcon of the Rock of the Ledge, and the Brown Wren of
the Stream of Flowing.

The telling illustrates the style of folk tales, with its threefold
repetitions, and the story of a hero’s search aided by three
supernatural helpers is an ancient tale type classified as “The Man on
a Quest for His Lost Wife: Magic Objects or Animals as Helpers.”

The language, which may be a little difficult for young children, is
poetic, and the silhouette illustrations are charming. This is one of
the most attractive retellings of a folk tale that I have seen.