In Ireland, lived a gentle giant called Finn MacCool. At fifty-two feet six inches, he was a relatively small giant. But across the sea in Scotland there was a rival giant called Benandonner. The two Giants hollered across the sea of Moyle, each demanding a trial of strength. This was agreed, and hospitable Finn offered to make the contest possible by building a rocky causeway between the two countries. But to do this he needed some helpers. Which tells how Finn built a path across the sea from County Antrim to Benandonner's lair - Fingal's cave on the island of Staffa, but the work was so laborious that Finn fell asleep with exhaustion. Oonagh was Finn's wife, a giantess; she woke up early the next morning to find Finn sound asleep. Then she heard the sound of thunderous footsteps. And saw the mighty Benandonner approaching. He was truly gigantic. Finn would be no match against this Scottish giant. Quick thinking Oonagh covered the sleeping Finn with a night-gown and bonnet. "Where's Finn?" bellowed Benandonner, "Where is the coward hiding?". He peered at the sleeping Finn.

"Be quiet," Oonagh warned Benandonner, "or you'll waken the bairn!" Benandonner panicked. If the child was this big, how much bigger might Finn be? He did not stay to find out... He hastily retreated across the causeway, destroying it in his wake...

OR Sixty million years ago Antrim was subject to intense volcanic activity, when highly fluid molten rock was forced up through fissures in the chalk bed to form extensive lava plateau. The rapidly cooling lava contracted and variations in the cooling rate resulted in the world famous columnar structure. The columns are mainly hexagonal though there are some with up to eight sides. The weather was appalling in the short time we were there, plus there was hundreds of tourists, of whom I was one, were crawling all over the place. These are the only photos I have that are people free! Equipment: Canon EOS 5, 28mm-105mm lens, tripod, and cable release Film: Sensia 200 Scanner: PF 1800 AFL

I much prefer the tale of the giants. Thanks for sharing pictures and story. I have to get over there one of these days.

Love the giant story! Nice shots of the rocks, I like the second one, interesting formations in all of these.

Nice shots here Azy and the story is great :O) Have you any wider shots of the surrounding landscape I understand its very beautiful.

yes I took more shots surrounding area, I will post soon

neat story, wish the US of A had such neat stories handed down for centuries, but being we are only a couple of hundred years or so old, as a nation...... neat pics!

What an awesome story....and gorgeous pics!

Great shot with #1. Loke both stories. Getting so they are both equally believable.

I prefer short # 1 too, but they are all three nice. The giant story is cute :-). Gitte

Thanks for sharing these stories, azy! Your images tell more stories as well. These make great textures, btw. :-) (*

Well, I'm a day late here but had to comment anyway on how cool this all is, both pics & story. Thanks Azy!