Story Hour
THE GIANT'S CAUSEWAY
Written by Gene B. Williams
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In County Antrim, Northern Ireland, near the village of Bushmills, is what some call “the 8th wonder of the world.” The name used most often is Giant’s Causeway. (A “causeway” is a path, usually over water or wetlands.) About 60 million years ago, this area on our planet was volcanic. Lava came shooting out of the ground. It then cooled in just the right way to form columns – like sticks of rock. There are about 40,000 of these. They look a little like stepping stones that go from the cliffs and into the sea. Most have six sides (hexagons). Across the water is the small island of Staffa. This is part of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The same kind of “rocky sticks” can be found there. That’s the truth of it – the science of it. Both areas are so strange to look at, there are bound to be stories.
No one is completely sure which of the legends came first, or why they changed. As Christians moved into the area, many of the original stories were squashed. Things written down were destroyed. Over time it got changed in many different ways. Even the names change, depending on who tells the story, and where.
Here are some interesting videos you can watch before you read the story – or after – or both.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjtqlhW1WMI
giant’s causeway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHeukRJgs_Q
giant’s causeway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdNFzXH4Qug
about fingal’s cave
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVhmZUdETDo
fingal’s cave overture, Mendelssohn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDE3nFdxXe0
animated story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cStcN5DX6dU
another animation
The Legend of Finn McCool
Fionn mac Cumhail, better known as Finn McCool, lived in what is now known as Antrim in Northern Ireland. Finn was said to be a powerful giant. Across the water was his enemy, Benandonner. He was also a giant, but of Scotland. Benandonner was a buggane. You will just how terrible this creature is when you know that from it we get the word boogeyman! That’s what Benandonner was – and he was one of the worst ever. He even had the idea to take over all of Ireland.
Finn and Benandonner did not get along. They hated each other. This is a little strange because they lived in different places many miles apart and separated by a wide channel of water. The water between was far too deep for either to cross. In fact, they couldn’t quite even see each other very well. So, their battle was mostly screaming insults at each other. Oh, they both said the most awful things! That made them hate even more. Then, to prove their strength and power, they began to rip out big chunks of the ground and large rocks to throw at each other. You can still see the result of several of these. Finn threw a piece of ground that became the Isle of Man. Benandonner hurled a rock so huge it left a large hole that it is now known as Loch Neagh, the largest lake in all of Great Britain.
Finn got an idea. He began to yank out pillars of rock to put into the sea. His plan was to make a sort of bridge. The stones fit together like the paving stones of a garden. It was hard work, but Finn was determined to cross the water and do battle.
Finn’s wife, Oona, was against the whole thing. Although Finn was a powerful giant, she had no idea what Benandonner would be like – other than that he could throw a rock large enough to cause a massive lake, and throw it many miles across the channel. Still, nothing she said could keep Finn from his work of putting those pillars of rock into the sea to create that bridge. What is left of it is now called the Giant’s Causeway on the Ireland side and Fingal’s Cave (or Melodious Cave) on the Scottish side. At last it was finished.
One day, Finn crossed the causeway. It was daylight, and Benandonner was usually asleep during the day. Finn had only seen Benandonner from across the wide channel. When he saw this creature for real … well, even asleep, the creature was huge and terrible. Finn quickly realized that he couldn’t win the battle. He went home, frustrated, tired, and even a little afraid.
Oona heard Benandonner coming. His angry footsteps were like earthquakes in the ground, and thunder in the skies. His voice shook the trees. When she finally saw him, she also knew that her husband didn’t stand a chance in battle against THIS giant. Thinking fast, she grabbed a blanket and threw it over Finn to hide him.
“Where is my enemy,” demanded Benandonner. “I’ll tear him into tiny pieces and feed him to the fish and the crows!”
Somehow, Oona kept her own voice calm. “I’m sorry, he has gone away to rearrange some mountains. He should be back soon, though.” She paused for a moment then said, “You’re very small for a giant.” Then she shook her head as though she pitied him.
Benandonner wasn’t sure what to think … other than that being more polite might be a good idea. He asked, “What’s there under the blanket?”
“Shhhh,” said Oona. “I’m here alone to care for our newborn baby, Fingal.”
Benandonner looked and was astonished. What he really saw, as you know, was Finn in a blanket. What he thought he saw was a newborn baby already the size of a giant. And if a baby could be so large, the father must be TREMENDOUS! He also got to thinking that an enemy able to push mountains around wouldn’t have much trouble with a buggane. (Do you remember what a buggane is?) Very quickly he decided that the smart thing to do would be to run for home and safety. On the way, he kicked the bridge to pieces so his fierce enemy couldn’t cross over.
And that’s the way it is to this day. You can still see the stepping stones, and the Isle of Man, and the Loch. Benandonner left in such a hurry that he left behind what is now known as the Giant’s Boot. You can see that, too, there on the beach.
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