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On the coast of Northern Ireland,

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a vast plateau of basalt slabs
and columns

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called the Giant’s Causeway

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stretches into the ocean.

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The scientific explanation for this

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is that it’s the result of
molten lava contracting and fracturing

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as it cooled in the wake 
of a volcanic eruption.

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But an ancient Irish myth 
has a different accounting.

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According to legend,

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the giant Finn MacCool lived happily 
on the North Antrim coast

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with his wife Oonagh.

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Their only disturbance came from
the taunts and threats

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of the giant Benandonner,

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or the red man, 
who lived across the sea in Scotland.

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The two roared insults 
and hurled rocks at each other

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in dramatic shows of strength.

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Once, Finn tore up a great clump of land 
and heaved it at his rival,

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but it fell short of reaching land.

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Instead, the clump became the Isle of Man,

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and the crater left from the disturbed
earth filled with water

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to become Lough Neagh.

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The giants’ tough talk continued,

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until one day Benandonner challenged 
Finn to a fight, face to face.

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And so the Irish giant tossed 
enough boulders into the sea

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to create a bridge of stepping 
stones to the Scottish coast.

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Finn marched across in a fit of rage.

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When Scotland loomed before him,

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he made out the figure 
of Benandonner from afar.

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Finn was a substantial size,

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but at the sight of his colossal
enemy thundering towards him,

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his courage faltered.

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With one look at Benandonner’s thick neck
and crushing fists, Finn turned and ran.

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Back home, with Benandonner 
fast approaching,

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Finn trembled as he described 
his enemy’s bulk to Oonagh.

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They knew that if he faced 
Benandonner head on,

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he’d be crushed.

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And so Oonagh hatched a cunning plan -

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they needed to create an illusion of size,

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to suggest Finn was a mountain 
of a man whilst keeping him out of sight.

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As Benandonner neared 
the end of the bridge,

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Oonagh stuffed her husband 
in a huge cradle.

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Disguised as an enormous baby,

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Finn lay quiet as Benandonnner 
pounded on the door.

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The house shook as he stepped inside.

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Oonagh told the enraged visitor 
that her husband wasn’t home,

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but welcomed him to sit
and eat while he waited.

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When Benandonner tore into the cakes 
placed before him,

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he cried out in pain

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for he’d shattered his teeth 
on the metal Oonagh had concealed inside.

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She told him that this 
was Finn’s favorite bread,

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sewing a seed of doubt 
in Benandonner’s mind

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that he was any match for his rival.

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When Finn let out a squawk,

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Benandonner’s attention was drawn 
to the gigantic baby in the corner.

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So hefty was the infant swaddled 
under piles of blankets,

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Benandonner shuddered at the thought 
of what the father would look like.

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He decided he’d rather not find out.

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As he fled, Benandonner tore up the rocks 
connecting the shores,

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breaking up the causeway.

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What remains are two identical 
rock formations:

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one on the North Antrim coast of Ireland

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and one at Fingal’s Cave in Scotland, 
right across the sea.