Approximately sixty miles north-north west of Belfast are the forty thousand interlocking Basalt columns known as the “Giant’s Causeway.” Formed somewhere between 50 and 60 million years ago from an ancient volcanic eruption, in what is now County Antrim on Northern Ireland’s North coast, some of the columns reach heights of nearly 40 feet.
The Causeway is steeped in Gaelic Mythology. The most frequently told story claims that these are the remains of a raised roadway, built by the giant Finn MacCool, across the North Channel. It seems that MacCool was challenged to a fight with the Scottish giant Benandonner. MacCool built the Causeway so that the two could meet face-to-face. In this most popular version of the legend, MacCool’s wife disguised him as a baby. When the Scottish Benandonner saw the size of the baby, he thought the father must be a “...giant among giants” and fled back to Scotland destroying the Causeway behind him (it might be interesting to read the Scottish version of this tale. Bet it would be different).
Irish artist Susanna Drury’s 1739 water color paintings of the Causeway turned it into an international sensation. By the 19th century, it had become a top tourist attraction in Northern Ireland, and remains so to this very day. The Giant’s Causeway has been featured in the series “Game of Thrones” (2011 to 2019) and in such films as the 2011 “Your Highness” and the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony; “Isles of Wonder.” Indeed, they are stunning!
The Causeway is steeped in Gaelic Mythology. The most frequently told story claims that these are the remains of a raised roadway, built by the giant Finn MacCool, across the North Channel. It seems that MacCool was challenged to a fight with the Scottish giant Benandonner. MacCool built the Causeway so that the two could meet face-to-face. In this most popular version of the legend, MacCool’s wife disguised him as a baby. When the Scottish Benandonner saw the size of the baby, he thought the father must be a “...giant among giants” and fled back to Scotland destroying the Causeway behind him (it might be interesting to read the Scottish version of this tale. Bet it would be different).
Irish artist Susanna Drury’s 1739 water color paintings of the Causeway turned it into an international sensation. By the 19th century, it had become a top tourist attraction in Northern Ireland, and remains so to this very day. The Giant’s Causeway has been featured in the series “Game of Thrones” (2011 to 2019) and in such films as the 2011 “Your Highness” and the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony; “Isles of Wonder.” Indeed, they are stunning!
A small part of the 40,000 Basalt columns that make up the Giant’s Causeway.
While geological evidence state these were formed by a volcanic eruption some 50 to 60 million years ago, Gaelic Mythology claims they were constructed by the giant Finn MacCool 81 miles across the North Channel to Fingal’s Cave in Staffa Scotland so he could fight the Scottish giant Benandonner.
“If we sit on the Giant’s Causeway, can we become giants also?”
“Oh, look. The giant, Finn MacCool, left behind one of his boots.”
There are several fascinating features on this site, such as this series of columns known as the “Pipe Organ”...
...and this one called the “Chimney.”
Follow your nose (for 81 miles) and you’ll be in Scotland.
What a wonderful place! It’s unbelievable!
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