Fionn McCool, the legendary hero of Ireland, received word that a Scottish king was laying claim to his homeland. In response, Fionn began constructing a causeway across the sea to confront the threat. However, upon seeing the sheer size of the Scottish giant, he had second thoughts and hastily retreated back to Ireland. This is the creation myth attached to the Giants Causeway and conjures up images of giants walking the land in a time before recorded time.
Una, Fionn’s companion, reassured him not to fear. She took nine woolen threads and skillfully pleated them into three folds, creating a barrier that would thwart any obstacle.
In a tale from Scottish folklore known as “Mulla chubin,” Una devised a clever plan to deceive the Scottish giant, BENANDONNER. She baked bread with iron pans hidden within the dough and fashioned a cradle for Fionn, instructing him to stay quiet. When the Scottish giant arrived and boasted of his intention to battle Fionn Mac Cool, Una mocked his bravado, implying that Fionn was out seeking him, leaving her with his “sick little baby.”
As the giant bit into the bread, he howled in pain as his teeth met the iron pans concealed within, spitting out two teeth onto the table. Una, quick on her feet, remarked that the “baby” was teething and that the crust provided comfort.
Upon discovering the deception, the Scottish giant took flight, tearing up Fionn’s causeway in fear that Fionn would pursue him back to Scotland.. Benandonner thought that if this was his child, he would be loathe to meet his father!
In a more modern context, a study published in the journal Human Mutation showed increased prevalence of patients with acromegaly and gigantism in the Mid Ulster region of Ireland. The study traced a genetic change in the AIP gene back to a single “common ancestor” who lived approximately 2,500 years ago.
The images are of the Giants Causeway and The Sperrins Mountain Park. There are many places in the North of Ireland that are fascinating and off the beaten path. To book an adventure, go to www.wildaboutireland.ie