Yeats' FAIRY AND FOLK TALES OF THE IRISH PEASANTRY

GIANTS

   When the pagan gods of Ireland--the Tuath-De-Danān--robbed of worship and offerings, grew smaller and smaller in the popular imagination, until they turned into the fairies, the pagan heroes grew bigger and bigger, until they turned into the giants.

Aran Islanders, J. Synge [1898] (public domain photograph)