In the footsteps of giants

This the Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. And this is the story of a giant called Finn….






In Ireland, lived a gentle giant called Finn MacCool. At fifty two feet six inches he was quite small as giants go, but across the sea in Scotland he had a rival, a strapping giant called Benandonner.

The two Giants shouted across the sea of Moyle to each other, demanding a trial of strength. Finn offered to make the contest possible by building a rocky causeway between the two countries. The path across the sea went all the way from County Antrim to Benandonner's lair - Fingal's cave on the island of Staffa.

The work was so laborious that Finn became exhausted. Oonagh, his giantess wife, woke up early the next morning to find her husband sound asleep.

Before she could wake him she heard the sound of thunderous footsteps and saw the mighty Benandonner approaching. He was truly enormous. She was dismayed to think that Finn would be no match for this Scottish giant.

As quick as a flash, Oonagh covered the sleeping Finn with one of her nightgowns and a 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 this was a baby, how big would his father be? He did not stay to find out. He hastily retreated across the causeway, destroying it in his wake.

No one knows what Finn said to Oonagh when he woke up. Do you think he was pleased - or not?