The Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland is formed from thousands of hexagonal basalt columns created by an ancient volcanic eruption. According to Irish legend, the causeway was built by the giant Finn McCool to allow him to fight his Scottish rival Benandonner. When Benandonner arrived in Ireland, Finn McCool's wife dressed him as a baby to trick Benandonner. When Benandonner saw Finn's enormous "baby", he fled in fear back to Scotland, destroying the causeway behind him and losing one of his giant boots still visible today.

1. Finn McCool and the legend ofFinn McCool and the legend of
the Giantthe Giant’’s Causeways Causeway

2. The GiantThe Giant’’s Causeways Causeway
The Giant’s Causeway is located in County
Antrim on the northeast coast of Northern
Ireland.

3. What is it?What is it?
The area has approximately 40,000
hexagonal stones, which were formed
during a volcano eruption 60 million
years ago.

4. The Legend of Finn McCoolThe Legend of Finn McCool
A long, long time ago
in IrelandIreland there lived
a giant called FinnFinn
McCoolMcCool
He was very proud to
say that he was the
biggestbiggest, bravestbravest
giantgiant in Ireland
No-one in Ireland
dared to challenge him

5. BenandonnerBenandonner
However in Scotland
there was a giant,
much bigger and
fiercer called
BenandonnerBenandonner
He was known as the
most fierce,fierce,
fearless, bravest,fearless, bravest,
and strongestand strongest giant
in Scotland.Scotland.

6. FightFight
One day when Finn was going about his
daily business, Benandonner began to
shout insults from across the sea.
In anger Finn lifted a lump of earth and
threw it at the giant. He challenged him
to a fight.
Benandonner threw a rock back at Finn
and told him he couldn’t swim.

7. The CausewayThe Causeway
Since Benandonner couldn’t swim and there was
no boat big enough to carry a giant, Finn built a
huge causeway (a bridge)huge causeway (a bridge) of giant stones across
the water so that the Scottish giant could travel
across the sea to Ireland.

8. Benadonner comes to IrelandBenadonner comes to Ireland
However when Finn McCool
realised how big
Benandonner was, he was
scared. He knew that
Benandonner would kill him.
He knew that he couldn’t
fight him so ran home to his
house
He asked his wife Oonagh to
hide him

9. Finn dressed up as a babyFinn dressed up as a baby
Luckily Finn’s wife
Oonagh was a very
intelligent woman.
She told Finn not to
worry, she dressed him
up as a baby and told him
to go to the sofa and
pretend to sleep there..

10. Ben arrives furious at FinnBen arrives furious at Finn’’s houses house
Ben asked Finn’s
wife where he was
Oonagh told Ben
that Finn was out
but invited him in
for some tea
She told Ben to be
quiet and showed
him the “baby”
(Finn McCool)
that was sleeping

11. Ben cannot believe how big the baby isBen cannot believe how big the baby is
He was so shocked at
the size of the baby
that he ran away
“If the baby is huge
the father must be
extremely
GINORMOUS!!”
He ran back to
Scotland
He destroyed the
Causeway so that Finn
McCool couldn’t find
him

12. GiantGiant’’s Boots Boot
On the wayOn the way
home he losthome he lost
his boothis boot
It is still thereIt is still there
todaytoday