Science tells us that the Giant’s Causeway on the coast of Northern Ireland was formed by a giant lava flow formed by a volcanic eruption millions of years ago. Its basalt columns were perfectly formed as the lava dried, creating symmetrical hexagonal pillars in the form of a staircase. Wow, Mother Nature is quite the artist!
When we first laid eyes on the Giant’s Causeway, we found this science nearly impossible to believe. It’s too perfect. It looks like the interlocking brick walk that Dave and I meticulously designed and built in the front of our house one summer. If only we could have scooped up some hot lava, poured it in a pool and waited for it to cool. Our work would have been much easier. Although, getting your hands on fresh hot lava is another story.
Instead of trusting the science and listening to the experts, we chose to believe in the legend of Finn McCool and the Giants Causeway. (Hey, it was either that or aliens) Standing on the Giant’s causeway and examining the pillars made it easy to believe that it was built by giants. They look like they had to have been carefully placed there by someone larger than life.
Giant’s Causeway through the years
For generations the story of Finn McCool has been told in Ireland. People believed that the causeway was built by giants, and when looking at it, it’s easy to see why. I could totally picture a family of giants creating an interlocking brick walkway to create a causeway across the sea to connect Northern Ireland and Scotland. (I wonder if they bickered as much as Dave and I?)
The Legend of The Giant’s Causeway
Legend says that rivals Finn McCool of County Antrim in Ireland, and the Giant Bennandoner of Scotland were constantly bickering from afar. One day Finn McCool decided to build a bridge to cross the sea and challenge Bennandoner to a fight. He ran across the causeway from Ireland to Scotland to sneak up on Bennadoner, but when he got a closer at the giant, he discovered that he was larger than he imagined. McCool quickly turned around and ran back to Antrim.
Bennadoner noticed McCool and followed him home.
Being a smart man, Finn McCool ran to his wife for help. (As we women know, most husbands do ) He told her that he challenged Bennadoner to a fight but the giant was much bigger than he imagined. What could he do now?
She made a plan quickly dressed him in a bonnet and shawl disguising him as a baby and tossed him in a crib.
When Bennadoner came knocking on the door and saw the size of McCool’s baby laying in the crip, he imagined how large his father must be. He realized that this giant would be too big to fight, so he hightailed it back to Scotland destroying the causeway on his way home. The bridge across the sea was gone, but remnants still remain.
When walking along the 40,000 or so pillars that are left of the Giant’s Causeway it is easy to envision these stone pillars as steps leading out over the sea. It’s so perfectly formed and beautifully crafted it makes it hard not to believe in the legend.
When we hear that there are similar basalt pillars at Fingal’s Cave on the Scottish Isle of Staffa it reinforces the belief that it could be true. Just imagine a giant causeway linking the two islands to each other. Wouldn’t it be beautiful? And isn’t it fun to believe in giants, even if it’s just for a few minutes?
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