One small step for a giant, one giant step for the rest of us.

So the ‘science’ tells us that over 50 million years ago an ancient volcanic eruption resulted in the 40,000 interlocking basalt columns that comprise the Giant's Causeway. It’s beyond impressive, whereby the hexagonal columns appear like stepping stones going into the sea and in some places raise up to 12 metres high. But that was a long time ago, so who knows for sure if that really happened, I prefer the alternative theory, that the causeway was, in fact, built by Giants.  

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According to legend, a gentle Irish giant by the name of Finn MacCool, who was, by giant standards, relatively small at just under 53 feet tall, was challenged to a fight by Benandonner, the Scottish giant. Finn accepted the challenge and in order for the two giants to meet, Finn built a path across the sea. But the building of the path tired Finn out and when he got home, he fell asleep with exhaustion.

While he was sleeping, Benandonner, crossed the causeway and was seen by Oonagh, Finn’s wife, who noted that he was much, much larger than Finn and would easily defeat her husband. So she quickly put a nightgown and a bonnet on the sleeping Finn. When Benandonner arrived, demanding to see Finn, Oonagh indicated that he needed to be quiet as to not disturb the sleeping baby. At this Benandonner became worried, if the baby was big, then how much bigger would Finn, the father be? He didn’t want to find out and promptly ran back across the causeway to Scotland, destroying it in his wake.

Now all that remains of the causeway are the identical basalt columns in Northern Ireland and across the sea in Scotland. The decision is yours: science or legend? volcano or giant? lava or Finn MacCool? I know what I believe.