Overview

They said giants were only legends, but the truth is they are real. A rare genetic mutation. A centuries-old mystery. A journey that spans folklore, science, and family. In Search of Giants: The Quest to Find the Genetic Giants of Northern Ireland is a gripping blend of medical mystery, personal memoir, and Irish history. It follows Colleen Snyder, the first person in the United States identified with a rare Irish genetic mutation that causes gigantism, as she meets fellow giant Brendan Holland from Co. Tyrone and uncovers a forgotten legacy. What's inside: Rare disease and genetic discovery - Learn how a mutation in the AIP gene causes life-threatening gigantism and how it can remain undiagnosed in many for years. True medical mystery - Explore the story of Charles Byrne, the 18th-century Irish giant whose body was stolen-and how his DNA cracked open centuries of scientific secrets. Irish history and folklore - Dive into the legends of Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the rich mythos of giants in Ulster, where fact and folklore intertwine. Personal journey and identity - Follow Colleen's quest from a pandemic-era Google search to her discovery of ancestral ties, newfound Irish kin, and a global network of others with the same mutation that caused their gigantism. Genetic genealogy and ancestral connections - See how London researcher Professor Márta Korbonits traced this mutation back 2,000 years to a hotspot between Lough Neagh and the Sperrin Mountains, linking families from Mid-Ulster in Northern Ireland to Scotland, Canada, Australia, and beyond. Interviews and lived experiences - Hear the voices of modern-day giants, including co-author Brendan Holland, as they reflect on what it means to carry this condition, this history, and this legacy. Perfect for readers who love: Medical nonfiction Rare disease memoirs Genetic genealogy Irish culture and ancestry True stories of science and identity The giants are real. Their stories are unforgettable. Join us in the search by scrolling up and ordering your copy of In Search of Giants to uncover the astonishing truth that links myth, medicine, and memory across generations.

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Reviews

""This book is a unique personal account of the challenges and revelations that come with living with a rare genetic pituitary condition. I encourage anyone living with a rare condition or caring for someone living with a rare condition to read this book. Brendan and Colleen's sharing of their remarkable personal experiences will go a long way to raising awareness and potentially help others in securing an early diagnosis."" --Dr. Ben Loughrey, academic clinical lecturer and physician at Queen's University Belfast and the Regional Centre for Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, Northern Ireland. ""In Search of Giants is a complex mystery tale weaving together 21st century genetics, ancient Irish legend and lore, and present-day bonds of international friendship. Snyder, who lives in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, has documented her own medical history and linked it to her family's place of origin in Northern Ireland, where a medical condition she shares with her ancestors has brought her a sense of kinship with her new friend and fellow ""Irish giant,"" Brendan Holland. Whether your interest is medical or mythological, you will find this story fascinating and enlightening!"" -Melanie Choukas-Bradley, Author of City of Trees and Wild Walking-A Guide to Forest Bathing through the Seasons ""Stories of giants have long filled the narrative of Irish culture in Northern Ireland. This book is an important contribution to the understanding of how Irish mythology and modern medical science combine to explain the prevalence of giant stories in Mid-Ulster. In Search of Giants shows how human genetics has transformed the stuff of legend and folklore into modern medicine and its real-world consequences."" --Jonathan Gray, Northern Ireland historian, Dungannon, County Tyrone, UK ""This book shows how modern genetic medicine diagnoses and successfully treats the rare disease of gigantism. In Search of Giants skillfully meshes myth, folklore, personal anecdotes, and cutting-edge science to create an informative read for both the scientific community and those looking for more information on a rare genetic mutation."" --Susan Gillette, MHS-PHP, State University/Hershey College of Medicine

"""This book is a unique personal account of the challenges and revelations that come with living with a rare genetic pituitary condition. I encourage anyone living with a rare condition or caring for someone living with a rare condition to read this book. Brendan and Colleen's sharing of their remarkable personal experiences will go a long way to raising awareness and potentially help others in securing an early diagnosis."" --Dr. Ben Loughrey, academic clinical lecturer and physician at Queen's University Belfast and the Regional Centre for Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, Northern Ireland. ""In Search of Giants is a complex mystery tale weaving together 21st century genetics, ancient Irish legend and lore, and present-day bonds of international friendship. Snyder, who lives in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, has documented her own medical history and linked it to her family's place of origin in Northern Ireland, where a medical condition she shares with her ancestors has brought her a sense of kinship with her new friend and fellow ""Irish giant,"" Brendan Holland. Whether your interest is medical or mythological, you will find this story fascinating and enlightening!"" -Melanie Choukas-Bradley, Author of City of Trees and Wild Walking-A Guide to Forest Bathing through the Seasons ""Stories of giants have long filled the narrative of Irish culture in Northern Ireland. This book is an important contribution to the understanding of how Irish mythology and modern medical science combine to explain the prevalence of giant stories in Mid-Ulster. In Search of Giants shows how human genetics has transformed the stuff of legend and folklore into modern medicine and its real-world consequences."" --Jonathan Gray, Northern Ireland historian, Dungannon, County Tyrone, UK ""This book shows how modern genetic medicine diagnoses and successfully treats the rare disease of gigantism. In Search of Giants skillfully meshes myth, folklore, personal anecdotes, and cutting-edge science to create an informative read for both the scientific community and those looking for more information on a rare genetic mutation."" --Susan Gillette, MHS-PHP, State University/Hershey College of Medicine"

Author Information

Colleen Snyder lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. In 2020, she discovered that she had a rare AIP genetic mutation normally found in Northern Ireland that caused her childhood-onset acromegalic gigantism. Knowing that her ancestors came from that area in 1861, she contacted London physician Professor Márta Korbonits about her work with patients from Northern Ireland. Professor Korbonits told her that she was the first person in the United Stated identified with the Irish variant and introduced her to Brendan who has the same genetic mutation and shares her diagnosis of gigantism. A former college writing teacher, Colleen has been published in the Washington Post and Destinations magazine. www.colleensnyder.net, www.insearchofgiants.org Brendan Holland has lived most of his life in the Dungannon area which is part of the genetic hotspot in Northern Ireland identified through Professor Korbonits' research. In 2009, he met Professor Korbonits during the filming of the documentary Charles Byrne, the Irish Giant directed by Ronan McCloskey in which Brendan played a prominent role. Brendan was also featured in the 2016 BBC documentary The Giant Gene. He has researched the history of gigantism in the geographic hotspot and has been interviewed on the NBC Today Show, BBC Radio 4, Irish Examiner, RTE Radio 1, and the BBC World Service. www.insearchofgiants.org

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