The legend of the Giant’s Causeway

Since the 18th century The Giants Causeway has often been described as ‘The Eighth Wonder Of The World’ and once you have visited the site you will quickly see why.

The area consists of an estimated 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns, which were formed during a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago.

Strangely, the Causeway is thought to have lain undiscovered by the outside world until a visit in 1692 from the Bishop Of Derry (Londonderry). The Bishop alerted authorities in Dublin, who then notified learned circles in London. Many papers were produced and many theories on how it had been formed were put forward.

Many of these theories were deeply rooted in science but legend has it that the Causeway came about by a far more comical and interesting means. The story of two giants, and a disagreement……..

Finn McCool and Fingal

Finn McCool (Fionn mac Cumhail) -an Irish Giant, lived on an Antrim headland and one day whilst he was going about his daily business a Scottish Giant named Fingal began to shout insults and hurl abuse from across the channel. In anger Finn lifted a clod of earth and threw it at the giant as a challenge. The chunk of earth landed in the sea.

Fingal retaliated with a rock thrown back and a shout that Finn was lucky that he (Fingal) wasn’t a strong swimmer or he would come across the water and make sure Finn could never fight again!

This was too great a challenge for Finn to ignore.

Finn was enraged and began lifting huge clumps of earth from the shore, throwing them so as to make a pathway in order that the Scottish giant could walk across and come and face him. However, by the time he finished making the crossing Finn had not slept for a week and was exhausted; so rather than fight, he and his wife devised a cunning plan to fool the Scot.

Finn diguised himself as a baby in a cot and when his adversary came across the causeway to face him Finn’s wife told the Giant that Finn was away. She made sure, however, that Fingal saw Finn’s ‘son’ sleeping in the cradle. The Scottish giant became apprehensive, for if the son was so huge, what size would the father be?

In his haste to escape Fingal sped back along the causeway Finn had built, tearing it up as he went. He is said to have fled to a cave on Staffa which is to this day named ‘Fingal’s Cave’.

The Giant’s Causeway, looking mystical in the sea mist.

Read more about this amazing geological phenomenon. Look for the link to Fingal’s cave and see a similar feature there! It’s no wonder that such a fantastical story was created to explain the incredible coastal structures.

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