Author: Emily Johnson
Legends about how strange landmarks came to be, how things
are the way they are, and some just for fun. Irish legends range from the
ridiculous to the astounding Giant’s Causeway located on the North coast of Ireland is a
chain of interlocking basalt columns with a legend a colorful as Ireland
itself. From the 1700's it
became widely known as the 'Eighth Natural Wonder of the World' and visitors
began to come in increasing numbers to see the wonderful array of over 40,000
basalt columns. (“Causeway Coastal Route”)
One of the famous legends about the Causeway says that a
giant by the name of Finn McCool created the causeway to fight a Scottish
giant. The legendary giant Finn McCool
was on the coast and spotted a rival Scottish giant named Benandonner, and
issued fighting words at him. Benandonner said he would crush Finn if he could
get to Ireland, but he could not swim. Throwing chunks of the mountainside into
the sea Finn made a walkway out of the rocks so that they could fight.
Traveling over the causeway to Scotland he was frightened when he saw how big
the Scottish giant was. He ran back home afraid although the Scottish giant saw
him and followed him back to Ireland over the causeway. Finn was terrified and
ran to his wife Oonagh for help.
His wife was a smart woman and came up with the idea of
dressing him as a baby and putting him in a crib to fool Benandonner. Although some of
the versions of the legend say that Finn was the one to come up with the idea,
because he was tired and didn’t want to fight Benandonne. Although no matter
what version of the legend is told Benandonner does come from Scotland to fight
Finn. Finn’s wife tells Benandonner that Finn was not there. Benandonner sees
the baby crib and went to go look at the “baby”. He was shocked at how big the
baby was and stuck his finger into the crib. Finn bit off Benandonner’s finger and the giant became
extremely terrified, for if the baby could do something like that then what
could the father do? Benandonner ran away in fear, terrified for his life. As
Benandonner ran back to Scotland he destroyed the Causeway all the way back.
The Causeway’s creation is speculated by many people, they have different ideas on it. The geological view is that three levels of lava outflow. The second idea is that the causeway was created by humans, it is said it’s been derived from the Finn McCool story. The third idea is that it was created by God as he made the earth. The legend is my favorite story of how the Causeway came to be, it’s much more exciting.
Giants Causeway Visitors Centre - The Myth of Finn McCool from The Pond Studio on Vimeo.
The Giant’s Causeway is visit-able and is open to the public, for a charge. The causeway brings people from around the world to view the cliffs and the strange causeway. The legend captivates people and draws them into the Irish legend, who doesn’t like to believe a tale about strange stones? I sure like the Giant’s legend more than the other tales; it has a lot more excitement and fantasy. Everyone needs a good legend in their lives.
Works Cited:
McGarry, Gerard.
“The Giant’s Causeway and the Legend of Finn McCool.” The Northern Ireland
Guide. N.P. 05. November. 2007. Web. 18. October. 2012.
“How it was
formed.” Causeway Coastal Route. Art Ward.2008. Web. 18.October.2012
The Pond Studio.
“The Myth of Finn McCool.” Vimeo. July 2012. Web. 18 Ocrotber.2012.
“Causeway Coast
and Glens.”Causeway Coast and Glens. 2010. Web. 18.October.2012
Richardson, Jim.
“Giant’s Causeway.” Photograph. NationalGeographic.com. Web. 18.October.2012.
Further Research:
Causeway Coastal Route
The site contains all kinds of helpful information about the
Giant’s Causeway.
Jump into Ireland
The site contains the Giant’s Causeway legend but also other
really cool Irish legends.
BallyCastle
This site contains plenty of information on the
Giant’s Causeway it includes the legend which is great.
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