Giant's Causeway - Belleek Annual Ornament 2025
The Giant's Causeway, located in County Antrim, on Ireland's North Coast, is
one of the most iconic and recognizable geographic landscapes and tourist destinations.
Named a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1986, it is made up of approximately
40,000 interlocking basalt columns. These columns were created 50 - 60 million years ago from volcanic fissure eruptions.
However, the Giant's Causeway is deeply ingrained in Ireland's mythology and folklore.
According to legend the columns are the remains of a Causeway built by the giant
Fionn Mac Cumhaill (Finn MacCool). Fionn had built the Causeway to reach and face
his rival, the Scottish giant, Benandonner. When Fionn saw how large Benandonner was from a distance he retreated home to Ireland.
Benandonner pursued Fionn and on his arrival at Fionn's house, his wife had disguised him as their baby and told Benandonner that Fionn was out.
On seeing the "baby" and his large stature, Benandonner was alarmed at how large Fionn must be if his baby was huge, so he retreated to Scotland, destroying the Causeway on his way, so that Fionn could not reach him.
Some of the remnants of the Causeway can also be found in Scotland at Fingal's Cave.
