NORTHERN IRELAND
Miko the Kitty: The Giant’s Causeway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the North coast of Northern Ireland (about two miles north of the village of Bushmills). The place, also known as “Clochán an Aifir” or “Clochán na bhFomhórach” in Irish and “tha Giant's Causey” in Ulster-Scots, is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt (a type of dark volcanic rock) columns that resulted from a volcanic eruption several million of years ago. The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some with four, five, seven or eight sides. The tallest are about 12 meters (39 ft) high, and the solidified lava in the cliffs is 28 meters thick in places.
Apart from the scientific explanation to these outstanding formations, there are those who prefer a more colorful story. The popular legend tells that Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool in English), the mythical hunter-warrior of Irish mythology, built the causeway (a raised road or path across water or wet ground) to fight his adversary, the Scottish giant by the name of Benandonner.
Finn fell asleep before going across to Scotland and he woke up to find the Scottish giant appearing on the horizon. Finn realised Benandonner was much bigger than himself and ran to his wife Oonagh wondering what he should do. Oonagh disguised Finn as a baby and made him curl up in an enormous cradle. Benandonner saw the huge ‘child’ in the cradle and began to wonder what size his father would be. Terrified by the thought of how big the baby’s father would be, Benandonner returned to Scotland and destroyed the Causeway as he returned home.
The legend corresponds with geological history inasmuch as there are similar basalt formations (a part of the same ancient lava flow) at the site of Fingal's Cave on the isle of Staffa in Scotland.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBARpgnYKvU
Apart from the scientific explanation to these outstanding formations, there are those who prefer a more colorful story. The popular legend tells that Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool in English), the mythical hunter-warrior of Irish mythology, built the causeway (a raised road or path across water or wet ground) to fight his adversary, the Scottish giant by the name of Benandonner.
Finn fell asleep before going across to Scotland and he woke up to find the Scottish giant appearing on the horizon. Finn realised Benandonner was much bigger than himself and ran to his wife Oonagh wondering what he should do. Oonagh disguised Finn as a baby and made him curl up in an enormous cradle. Benandonner saw the huge ‘child’ in the cradle and began to wonder what size his father would be. Terrified by the thought of how big the baby’s father would be, Benandonner returned to Scotland and destroyed the Causeway as he returned home.
The legend corresponds with geological history inasmuch as there are similar basalt formations (a part of the same ancient lava flow) at the site of Fingal's Cave on the isle of Staffa in Scotland.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBARpgnYKvU
Updated on 2012-05-19 11:46:39
Miko the Kitty: "More information on the Giant's Causeway visit: http://www.giantscausewayireland.com/"
Written on 2012-05-19 11:57:51
Updated on 2012-05-19 08:34:33
Caro bJOrcita Hur weiler: Official Tourism Board Ad video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NExiHwMZC_A
Updated on 2012-05-09 15:18:46
Caro bJOrcita Hur weiler: Northern Ireland's Tourism Board website: http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/
Updated on 2012-05-09 15:07:53
Caro bJOrcita Hur weiler: Latest news on what is happening in Northern Ireland: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ and http://www.irishcentral.com/news/nuzhound/
Updated on 2012-05-09 15:04:58
