The Legend of the Giant's Causeway

The Legend of the Giant's Causeway

This story takes place long ago, when fairies, leprechauns, and giants roamed the green hills of Ireland. It tells of the strongest giant on the isle, Finn McCool. Finn lived on top of Knockmany Hill with his beloved wife, Oonagh (OO-nuh). At the time of this tale, Finn and his relatives were building a bridge from Ireland to Scotland. They were almost finished when suddenly the ground began to shake. Waves washed over the stones.

Finn McCool knew what was happening. " I . . . I should be getting home, " he stammered. “ Oonagh must miss me so! " Then he ran off. Oonagh was surprised to see Finn come flying up Knockmany Hill. " You're home early, my love, " she said. “ The giant Cucullin (koo-KUL-in) is coming from Scotland. I felt his footsteps shake the ground! " Finn cried. Cucullin was the strongest giant in Scotland. Everyone was scared of him. He was angry and mean. During a storm, he once smashed a thunderbolt into a flat, glowing pancake. He carried it around to prove his strength. Cucullin had beaten up every giant in England, Scotland, and Ireland--all except Finn McCool. Cucullin hadn't beaten up Finn for a very good reason: Finn always ran away.

Now that a bridge stretched between Ireland and Scotland, though, Finn had nowhere to hide. " Enough is enough, " Oonagh sighed. " Let's deal with that mean Cucullin once and for all. How long until he gets here?" Finn put his thumb in his mouth. (Thumbs are where giants get their strength. ) “ He'll be here tomorrow morning, " Finn whimpered.

" We have plenty of time to get ready, " she said. " We can beat Cucullin, so long as you do exactly what I say. " Oonagh asked Finn to fetch her a pot of cream, three white stones, and a barrel of flour. Then she borrowed a frying pan from every neighbor around. Oonagh cooked the cream into curds of cheese. She formed them into a big, soft ball and set it in a basket with the three white stones. She made twenty-one loaves of bread. Into seven of them, she baked an iron frying pan.

Then, before bed, Oonagh made up a large baby crib and sewed a bonnet from the tablecloth. " I won't sleep in a crib dressed like a baby! " Finn shouted. “ Would you rather fight Cucullin?" Oonagh asked. " No, " muttered Finn. He strapped on the bonnet and snuggled into the crib.