The Legend of Finn McCool

Finn McCool (Fionn mac Cumhaill) is Irish mythology’s best-known giant — leader of the Fianna, a band of legendary warriors, famed for his strength and wisdom. His name is stitched right through this coastline’s folklore.

The best-known story is the origin of the Giant’s Causeway itself: built by Finn to reach — or fight — the Scottish giant Benandonner, and torn up again when Benandonner fled home after being tricked into thinking Finn’s “baby” was truly enormous. Locally, Finn is also said to have used Fair Head as a lookout point over the surrounding coast and sea.

Like most legends, the details shift depending on who’s telling it — but the giant’s fingerprints are all over this stretch of coast, in the shapes of the rocks as much as the stories told about them.