Wish List: Giant’s Causeway

I’m not going to the North this trip which is why I feel perfectly fine with putting Giant’s Causeway on today’s Wish List.


First, I know that my schedule is off.  Long weekends always mess up with my calendar. Though I know it’s Monday but it feels like Sunday, I never get over that it’s Tuesday and it feels like a Monday.  When Saturday comes around, I tend to think I’m late for work. This is a long introduction to say that I know I’ve scheduled Wish List on Mondays, but it’s late this week.  I’m not planning on trying to stick to my writing topics until I return from Éire.

Many of the hexagonal basalt columns at Giant's Causeway

The Giant’s Causeway is an area of mostly hexagonal basalt columns from the aftermath of an ancient volcanic eruption located just northeast of Bushmills, County Antrim.  (Yes, near NI’s favorite whiskey distiller.)  This site has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The legend of Giant’s Causeway focuses on Fionn mac Cumhaill, (Finn MacCool) a mythical hunter-warrior of Irish mythology who also appears in Scottish and Manx myths. His tales (Fenian Cycle) are a separate series of stories from Cú Chulainn’s. (Ulster Cycle.)

Close up of the columns

The warrior, Fionn, had a Scottish counterpart named, Benandonner. The bravado between the two men set up a rivalry from hurtling insults, socks and barbs across the channel between Ireland and Scotland.  The anger between the two grew to a head after a threat from the Scottish giant that if Benadonner could get a hand on Fionn, Fionn would never be able to fight again.  Fionn was so enraged that he built the causeway within a week’s time to connect the two lands so that Benadonner, who couldn’t swim, would be able to reach Fionn and fight.

Driven by pride, Benandonner crossed over since he had something to prove.  However, Fionn was exhausted from building and needed to rest.  There are different tales of what happen next, so I’ll pick and choose pieces to finish the story.

Fionn was exhausted and fell asleep to rest before he would fight; his wife, Oonagh, helped him to trick Benandonner. Oonagh covered Fionn with a blanket to disguise him as their baby while the Scottish giant approached.  Upon arrival, Benadonner asked for Fionn. Oonagh said that he was away but would return.  Oonagh entertained the guest with tea and cakes in which she slipped some rocks.  As Benadonner ate, he broke his teeth on what he thought were miserably hard cakes.  He noticed that Oonagh’s son, upon waking, was given the same food (but without rocks) and was eating them with ease.  Curious, he approached the baby and saw his enormity. Against better judgment reached out to stoke the baby’s head.  Fionn bit Benadonner’s finger, and Benadonner realize that if this massive child could eat stone-hard cakes and violently bite a man’s finger, there was no telling how big his father would be and what he would be capable of doing in a fight.  With the fear settling in, Benadonner ran, leaving Oonagh’s hospitality and tearing up the causeway in his wake.

The Pipe Organ formation at Giant's Causeway

 In Scotland, there is a formation, Fingal’s Cave on the island of Staff which is made from the same ancient lava flow.  This time, the basalt columns construct the basis of the cave.  The isle of Ulva also shows proof of this lava which had traversed between the two land masses.  This legend matches up with the geologic history to the British Isles.

The Irish tales are very rich fables, with many different plots, characters or even competing stories – like Perrault or the Bros. Grimm say, for our faerie tales – that the Irish told to explain their world.

Next time I go to Ireland, I’m going to have to head North: Co. Sligo, Co. Donegal, Co. Derry, Co. Antrim and Belfast to enjoy the other side of the Isle.

Images are courtesy of Wikipedia.