Giant's Causeway
Found in the north of Northern Ireland, this is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. In 1986 it became a World Heritage Site. It's a beautiful spot, although I found it quite spoilt by all the tourists clambering all over (I have to admit, I was one of them). Besides that, the name suggests a huge or gigantic area and that is just not true, it is actually quite small.
The giant Finn McCool and his Scottish counterpart Benandonner were always at odds with each other. One day, Benandonner came over to Ireland to fight Finn. Finn got a bit scared and hid in a pram. When Benandonner arrived, he found the pram and Finn, but thought Finn was only the baby! Now he in turn got scared and ran off. Finn then followed him over the causeway with a clump of land he had taken and threw it after him. The clump of land came from what is now the largest lake in Northern Ireland. Where it landed is now the Isle of Man (not much for direction, but hey, it's a legend). While Benandonner fleed, he ripped up the causeway.
Of course the story above is a legend and there are several variations to the story. Truth is though, that if they were to drain the water between Ireland and Scotland, you could walk all the way on the basalt columns!
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Oh! The Giant's Causeway! I've wanted to see that for years, and never have!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting it. I'm going to have a serious talk to OH!
Love how the legend and reality get mixed together. Very interesting post.
ReplyDeleteNice to see the giant causeway...and loved the story...
ReplyDeleteI love those Celtic legends! I have a book about them and they are great! So is your choice of G! Thanks for sharing! And also for your visit to my gnomes.
ReplyDeleteI really should pop across to Ireland and see this in t he flesh. Always fascinated me along with the mythology we we also have a lot of here.
ReplyDeleteLinky still on the blinky.
love the story.
ReplyDeleteA great bit of mythology.
ReplyDeleteA delightful story. I have been reading "The Myths of Ireland" and this is a very fun one....
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Sherry
Loved the story...very interesting. BTW, thanks for your visit.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting story, incredible how ancient giants fight. But I think more amazing is that the basalts columns extend all the way from Ireland to Scotland underwater. So that how Benandonner escaped.
ReplyDeleteInteresting story.
ReplyDeleteI have been pleasantly surprised at the variety of 'G' we've had this time.
Cheers!