Loyola's Travel Writing in Ireland

This week the Loyola New Orleans group walked amongst giants. In Northern Ireland, specifically in County Antrim, there is a geological wonder known as the Giant’s Causeway. There is quite a lot of interesting history surrounding this area that has fueled both the scientific and mythical worlds.

The drive there began at the early hour of nine and took almost two hours. As we made our way towards our final destination we were greeted with sharp turns and frighteningly high views off a cliff. The sights were literally breathtaking as many of us were surprised by the sharp turn and the sudden view of a rocky end at the bottom. The Irish Sea provided a welcome sight for me as growing up near water all the time makes me crave it simply as a source of security.

The bus stopped at the entrance of the site a new building provided by UNESCO, the group that declared this natural landmark a World Heritage Site. The building provided us with a brief history of the causeway and the lore surrounding it.

The myth centers on the giant Fiann mac Cumhaill, or Finn MacCool his provided name courtesy of the gift shop, and his supposed battle with the Scottish giant Benandonner. There are two versions of the story, but both end with a supposed duel and the causeway being destroyed. This has carried on in both countries due to the presence of basalt columns in both Northern Ireland and Scotland. This lead to the people believing that this was once the giant’s bridge between their two countries. The truth is that 60 million years ago large amounts of volcanic activity the basalt and chalk mixed to create a plateau of lava that when dried fractured into the shapes they are today.

The hexagonal steps are like nothing I’ve ever seen before, but what really gets me is the preservation of this place. 60 million years and this land has not been touched by man. Surviving war and the ruin of mankind that has touched so much of the once pure earth to remain as pristine as it was when the earth was still forming. The cliffs are green and contrast with the sharpness of the white rocks that make up their steepness. I can see people still walking up the designated trails to make their way to the very top of the cliff. I have no desire to walk all the way to the top I know what I will see, the sea for miles and miles, a beautiful sight I’m sure but not for me right now. I continue to climb the basalt columns and hop from one to the other landing every time with a soft thud as I walk where giants stood.