When Finnian Carmichael goes with his uncle to visit the big city of London, he discovers what he wants to do with his life: he wishes to become a glover, or a maker of gloves. The challenge, he realizes upon his return to Ireland, is that there are no glovers in his town to teach him how. This would be end of the dream for most people, but not for Finnian. Uncle Michael knows that his nephew will find a way — because he sees the young man has grit. "Grit," he says, "will always get you through."