History of the GIANT’S CAUSEWAY | Irish legend versus reality | learn about the Giant's Causeway

The history of the GIANT’S CAUSEWAY is a mix of LEGEND VERSUS REALITY. Situated in my home country of Northern Ireland, this spectacular collection of over 40,000 basalt rocks, mostly hexagonal in shape stretches out into the Atlantic Ocean towards Scotland. It is the country’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site and is sometimes called the eighth wonder of the world. In this video from History Calling we learn about the Giant’s Causeway, including the scientific explanation for its existence and of course the more entertaining tales which have sprung up around it, including that it was built by an ancient race of demonic creatures called the Formorians and the most famous story of all, that it was created by an Irish giant named Finn McCool and torn up by the Scottish giant Benandonner after Finn played a clever trick on him which made Benandonner believe that Finn would beat him in a fight. We’ll also look at other features of the landscape said to support this legendary story, including the giant’s boot, the giant’s chimney and the giant’s organ, which is seemingly carved into the cliff face next to the Causeway. I’ll talk you through what early historians of the 17th and 18th centuries made of this wondrous site too and show you some early pictures of the Giant’s Causeway. This will allow you to see how little it has changed over the centuries when you look at my personal footage shot there. Please enjoy this little trip to Northern Ireland with a local as your guide!
Patreon: / historycalling
Instagram: / historycalling
SUBSCRIBE with NOTIFICATIONS switched on for new videos every Friday.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
HISTORICAL MYSTERIES’ PLAYLIST • Historical Mysteries
THE 140 YEAR OLD COUNTESS OF DESMOND • THE 140 YEAR OLD COUNT...
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT ST PATRICK? • WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT ...
IS THE ISLAND OF HY BRASIL REAL? • IS THE ISLAND OF HY BR...
GEAR USED
DJI Drone: amzn.to/38h1vXr (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/39hROZm (US LINK)
Go-Pro Hero 10 camera: amzn.to/3EPIK9U (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3rTWScL (US LINK)
GoPro 3-Way 2.0 (Tripod/Grip/Arm): amzn.to/37CdC1r (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3vaVxjU (US LINK)
Memory Card: amzn.to/36QvcOQ (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3KeLZZs (US LINK)
Microphone: amzn.to/3MFtoaK (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3rYtjH8 (US LINK)
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommon...
Open Street Maps: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Copyright information: www.openstreet...

[@HistoryCalling]

What's your favourite natural landmark in the world? Let me know below and check out my PATREON site for extra perks at www.patreon.com/historycalling Remember to SUBSCRIBE to my channel too.

[@williamilika4029]

Geirangerfjord, Norway. I lived in Norway for a year and visited several times many years ago.

[@HistoryCalling]

Hi William. I'll bet Norway is absolutely beautiful too.

[@alicerivierre]

Yellowstone in America ❤🇺🇸

[@flanamom]

The Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA 🇺🇸

[@alicerivierre]

@@flanamom oh, yeah, the Grand Canyon, too! I love that too!

[@keiththorpe9571]

The scientific explanation of the formation of The Giant's Causeway debunks the assertion: "Nature doesn't build in straight lines or geometric shapes." Because sometimes, nature does.

[@HistoryCalling]

Oh it absolutely does. Snowflakes debunk that too.

[@keiththorpe9571]

@@HistoryCalling Well played, my friend...Well played. 😉 As always, great video.

[@kimidoodles]

My husband and I got to visit the Causeway in 2015, what a beautiful place!

[@HistoryCalling]

It is. I hope it didn't rain on you though (as it does rather frequently here!)

[@MadHatterDJ-]

Great video! I’ve never seen that half of the formation but I have been to Staffa. Being my clumsy self I managed to slip on one of the stones and went sliding down on my bottom towards the mouth of Fingals cave. Lucky I was able to stop myself or I might have become a legend of the stones 😐

[@HistoryCalling]

Oh dear! I hope you weren't badly hurt. At least it would have made an unusual and fascinating cause of death (not that that would have been much comfort to you) :-)

[@AxeMichi]

There's an animated series on Netflix called The Dragon Prince. In the first season, there's a plot point surrounding something they called "the Moonstone Path". Seeing your video now, I finally see where the animators probably got their inspiration from. Thank you so much for another great video!

[@HistoryCalling]

I am totally looking that up on Netflix later!

[@s4bombshell]

Sending love for the under appreciated non-Tudor, non-death videos!

[@s4bombshell]

I was only given certain options for monetary value, all ending in 99¢… not sure why!

[@HistoryCalling]

THANK YOU so much S4 Bombshell. It's always a relief to know that some people will watch something different and (dare I say it) more upbeat than the Tudors and death! The monetary values are pre-set by KZbin I'm afraid, so I'm unable to alter them or let people donate whatever amount they'd like. Have a fantastic weekend and thank you again for your support.

[@sandralantau7395]

Thank you for this fun video. Thank you especially for finding and showing us the different drawings of the Causeway through the centuries. I found that very interesting!

[@HistoryCalling]

Thanks Sandra. Yes, I liked looking at them to see how much they got right and how much (or rather little) has changed. It's always remarkable when you stand somewhere and think 'This looks basically the same as it did for people who stood here 1000 years ago'.

[@yef122]

I've fortunate to have been to Giant's Causeway twice. Amazing. I was surprised to see similar hexagonal basalt columns at Latourell Falls in Oregon, east of Portland.

[@HistoryCalling]

Yes, I think they crop up in a few places in the world.

[@nance1111]

I wholeheartedly agree about the vandalism to the Causeway.

[@HistoryCalling]

Yes, some people are and were so entitled. It makes me mad :-(

[@channelraven8808]

Super video, thank you! I'd love to hear more about Irish mythology, and history in general...what was happening in Ireland when Anne was losing her head and Mary and Elizabeth were burning people? And The Isle of Man is also a fascinating topic: England but not England: how did such a small nation (?) next to an overly politically aggressive place like old Blighty manage to obtain and hold that status? Thankyou for the ray of sunshine you always bring to my weekends:)

[@HistoryCalling]

Thank you. I don't know much about the Isle of Man's history unfortunately. As for what was happening in Ireland in the 16th century - lots of murder and mayhem!

[@channelraven8808]

@@HistoryCalling love to hear about that! And I have utter faith in you that you could research anything you put your mind to:)

[@Sattva468]

I love the way you can take topics we know about & add new colors, details, historical drawings & letters, etc, and it brings it to life in such an exciting way. Thanks for your videos.

[@stephencarrillo5905]

Love me some legend, HC! Thanks!

[@HistoryCalling]

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT STEPHEN and yes, a little legend here and there is always fun (even though I know a video like this, which isn't about death or the Tudors, won't do well).

[@ellen5165]

Fortunate enough to have been to Northern Ireland and the Giant's Causeway and also to Staffa to see the cave, the rocks, and the Puffins. The seas were, as usual, quite rough the day I went to Staffa and the man who took us across said he might not be able to get close enough to pick us up later. Of course, the three of us chose to explore the island anyway and, even though there might be times that is true, I suspect he says that to everyone he ferries to Staffa to enhance the tourist experience. So glad I was able to experience both sites as they are well worth the visit, and I love the mythology as well.

[@mesamies123]

"I'm not impressed." I LOVE this subtle, truthful anger. Thank you. 🙂❤

[@HistoryCalling]

Yes, I was really underplaying my annoyance there, or I could have gone on a rant.

[@GrandmaandMrRon]

Thank you. Timeless explanations that are very informative.

[@claudettepreisinger]

Thank you for all this interesting info! I'm hoping one day to visit Ireland and to see the Giant's Causeway :)

[@od1452]

Reminds me of all the Scottish stories my Grandfather told me. I was so worried he'd remember he already told me each one before .. I loved hearing them. I always thought Finn Mc Cool was a cool name. Thanks. I hope you can find more of these stories.

[@beejlobo]

Thank you! You are fabulous and I will make it up to Causeway. Learned about it in Geology. Living in Kinvara now and I don't have a favourite as all of Nature is gorgeous and the Earth should be a protected heritage site. However I am from Arizona, the desert Southwest USA, so the Grand Canyon, Havasupai, Monument Valley, Sedona, Moab, Bryce, Zion, Sunset Crater, are absolutely breathtaking and soul stunning.... the glorious world is wonderful! Thank you.

[@kenkaplan8554]

I have been fortunate to visit many unesco sites - but none can take your breath away like the Grand Canyon can

[@ardri31]

Best and most informative video on this I've seen. I will be sharing this with my 7 year old daughter to help with her project on Fionn Mac Cumhaill ❤

[@sandyhossman7771]

Spent a beautiful fall Sunday afternoon hiking the causeway. Was so much fun

[@HistoryCalling]

Yes, it is stunning (especially in good weather).

[@dearoldbiddy1363]

I laughed through a good part of this video just as I did when I watched Hy Brasil. I was hoping you would do a video about Ireland someday. I first heard about the Giant's Causeway from playing the game Civilization VI. I live somewhat near Yosemite Valley which I think is lovely as is Lake Tahoe, another local beauty.

[@HistoryCalling]

Thank you. I'd love to visit Yosemite someday. It looks gorgeous on TV.

[@phlebgrl6064]

I have to say, I really enjoyed this video about the Giants Causeway. You made it unique and fascinating by not only including the scientific findings, but I just loved how you incorporated the local history, mythology and the lore behind it. I was especially impressed when you said the mythological history was being taught in Primary School at some point. This was a great video and I subscribed for more!

[@kittyk.klandasions7008]

Ive been here. I was 7 and I can't forget it ❤❤

[@tasicourtney8117]

Saturday morning, logging on read the latest from History Calling over a nice cup of coffee is one of my favourite times of the week

[@HistoryCalling]

Aww, thank you so much :-)

[@princessjesstarca]

My favorite landmark seems to fit with this week’s topic! There’s a formation in the garden of the gods called “sleeping giant” located in Colorado near pikes peak. It has a cool history and is a local favorite.

[@HistoryCalling]

Oh, I haven't heard of that one. I'll have to Google it. It sounds intriguing.

[@lorrainebishop3520]

We have a Sleeping Giant here in South Wales uk

[@princessjesstarca]

@@lorrainebishop3520 that’s so cool! I’m going to have to look it up!

[@lorrainebishop3520]

@@princessjesstarca he is cool best place to see him is Abercraf.. nr. Crag Yr nos. People can walk over him.. I've been told, but not sure if it's right, that a Xmas tree is situated on his err nether regions over Christmas lol.

[@cindylewis3325]

Interesting Video. I looked into the causeway during lockdown. I thought it amazingly beautiful. Favorite natural areas, The Izu Peninsula, Mt Fugi in Japan, Niagara Falls in the US & Canada, Grand Canyon, US. Natural Bridge, Virginia US, Dunn River Falls, Jamaica, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

[@shellyraymond4337]

Interesting! I have definitely learned something new today!

[@HistoryCalling]

Thanks Shelly. I thought it would make a nice break from my usual type of content.

[@wncjan]

Love folklore stories like this.

[@HistoryCalling]

Thank you :-)

[@jillkearns525]

One of my favourite places to visit when I lived in Ireland! This makes me a bit homesick 😁.

[@HistoryCalling]

Aww, come home for a visit Jill. We'd love to have you back :-)

[@elisabethhopson5639]

Really interesting HC as usual. Fav landmarks, there are quite a few: Table Mountain, the Lake District, Tintagel, the Alps, all of New Zealand! On a tangent, the azure blue of the eastern Mediterranean. I would love you to do something on King Arthur if possible. Might be a bit of a stretch though.

[@HistoryCalling]

I've thought about King Arthur before actually, but the legends around him are such a tangled mess, I don't know if I could unpick them for a satisfactory video.

[@devinecatlady]

@@HistoryCalling if anyone could unpick it, you could. You're a marvel!

[@ns-wz1mx]

very captivating legends, this has been added to my bucket list! i think the nearest historical landmark to me is Serpent Mound, and being so close i still haven’t been there either!🤣

[@HistoryCalling]

I haven't heard of Serpent Mound, but with a name like that, I'm off to Google it.

[@ns-wz1mx]

@@HistoryCalling you definitely should it’s very interesting 😍

[@navileblond9981]

Great video, thanks. The saddest thing about it was humans find it, there's nothing mankind won't destroy.

[@davidlancaster8152]

Nice topic. The stone work looks cyclopian so I can see why stories and speculation cropped up at this site. Yours is the most detailed report of this place I've experienced. Fascinating! Thanks for the well rounded entertaining summary! Your skills are shinning. Appreciate much!

[@HistoryCalling]

Thanks David. I knew this video wouldn't do very well compared to a lot of others, but it was a topic I really wanted to cover.

[@SurferJoe1]

@@HistoryCalling You're automatic with me now, and I'm sure with many others. Whither you goest, we goest and are interested and grateful.

[@davidlancaster8152]

@@HistoryCalling I think it's awesome 👍. It should fly. No worries.

[@robertdudley4017]

I'd like to think the story of the two giants was true, but that's just me HC, it looks beautiful the causeway is amazing thank you as always. 😊😊

[@HistoryCalling]

It is stunning, but you need to be prepared for a bit of walk down the hill to it and back up from it. The tours that the National Trust guides give are excellent though.

[@robertdudley4017]

@@HistoryCalling Thanks HC its on my bucket list of castles and sites I'm away to Scotland in the comeing weeks. 😊👍

[@LisafromNOLA]

What a fascinating vid! You have the Giant’s Causeway and here in New Orleans we have a Giant Causeway 😉 (24 miles long over Lake Ponchartrain)

[@beastieber5028]

Thanks you history calling

[@stephencarrillo5905]

What? No Loch Neagh monster? How disappointing! 😉 I walked Bette and Lukas a bit early so I could catch this week's video on time and so glad I did. Informative and entertaining - the best combo. Did you shoot some of the footage with your new camera? Thanks again, HC. See you next week. 🙏🏼

[@HistoryCalling]

I actually shot the stuff at the Causeway on my phone last year. It's not brilliant footage to be honest, but I was able to set the phone down on some of the stones and keep it much steadier than usual, so it's passable enough. I wish I'd owned the Go Pro at that time though.

[@coletterice]

Thank you so much for this. I've never seen the Causeway, and I've always wanted to learn more about it. I'm partial to our Mount Shasta, our giant sequoia trees, Muir Woods (oh, the redwoods!) and Lake Tahoe, all in California.

[@HistoryCalling]

I'd love to visit California. Lots of sunny weather would be a plus for me, as well as all your gorgeous landmarks.

[@annbaillie9098]

My fave is skara brae in scotland, I live in Scotland and I am scottish, so first time I went there was on a school trip and its fascinating, and I like the fairytale story of the giants causeway (even though I know it's not true) but I remember my dad telling us the fairytale lol, and we loved it, and the guy who took stones for his garden shame on him. Keep up the good work Lyndsay love my wee friday night history stories. xoxoxoxox

[@HistoryCalling]

Scotland is stunning too. I always say that even in bad weather, the island of Ireland and Scotland are two places that can still look beautiful, even if it is in a bleak kind of way.

[@Moggiesix]

Wonderful, thank you!

[@HistoryCalling]

Thanks Darice. I thought it would be nice to show my viewers the old motherland for a change :-)

[@Moggiesix]

@@HistoryCalling I know very little on the history of Ireland, what about their royalty and leaders?

[@walterschinn619]

One of my favourite classical music pieces is the Fingal's Cave Overture, composed by Felix Mendelssohn after a visit to Staffa in the early nineteenth century.

[@HistoryCalling]

I'm off to Google that now :-)

[@annika5893]

Thanks for the the video! I remember requesting that you might cover something from Irish mythology and now you did. This was wonderful, thanks again!

[@HistoryCalling]

THANK YOU so much for your generous support Annika. Yes, I remember the Irish mythology request too. It was nice to do something from home, as it were, even though it's obviously not going to be a very popular video. I guess not everyone appreciates Irish history and mythology like you and I do :-)

[@ciarasimpson2640]

As always I just love your videos, from the details, visuals and ur ASMR voice.. this one however , you have done credit to our homeland as I'm from Northern Ireland too ....so thank you 😊 keep the videos coming !! 🥰

[@HistoryCalling]

Thanks Ciara. I like to do something from home every once in a while, even though the videos don't tend to do very well (but the people who don't watch don't know what they're missing).

[@katelijnesommen]

I remember visiting this formation in 2009, it was fascinating!

[@beastieber5028]

Good evening to history calling from Bea stieber

[@HistoryCalling]

Hi Bea :-)

[@lilly2b1]

Thank you for this one. I just realised that this was the same Fionn that had the salmon of knowledge!! I didn’t think he got that far north .

[@HistoryCalling]

Yup, Fionn got around all right :-)

[@2.7petabytes]

What an excellent video! After watching a particular video of Rare Earth and reading through the comments on that video, someone had mentioned The Causeway which me made me search out videos on the place. You do the history of this location justice! 👍 Subbed!

[@HistoryCalling]

Thank you so much and welcome aboard :-)

[@MegaVthompson]

Well THAT explains why my relatives are over 6’4” tall: men & women‼️ I’m Scott-Irish, & Welsh❣️

[@InThisEssayIWill...]

I appreciate the line at the end for inventing a loch Ness for this loch too 😆 I was incredibly interested in cryptozoology when I was a young teen and still have quite the soft spot for the subject regardless of it's unlikely nature. Humans have always loved fanciful stories and I can't fault them for that.

[@HistoryCalling]

Yes, I'm just waiting for our own 'monster' to be discovered :-)

[@CassiBlack]

The stories people have come up with to explain the world around them are amazing! I haven’t had the chance to experience many natural landmarks, but the one that sticks out to me the most is Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina. I went as a child and my parents insisted we cross the famous “Mile-High Swinging Bridge.” Between the motion and having a very mischievous older brother, I’m pretty sure that’s where my fear of heights began! Great video, as always!

[@HistoryCalling]

Speaking of the 'Mile-High Swinging Bridge', Google the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, which is only a couple of miles away from the Causeway.

[@CassiBlack]

@@HistoryCalling I can’t decide if having water underneath would make it scarier or not, lol!

[@richardbarrow6606]

Very enjoyable, Thank You 💚

[@jldisme]

I love my visit to Giants Causeway. What clambering around the side, I came across a stone that had been carved by John Orr from Belfast dated either 1828 or 1878. My favorite natural landmark is Lake Atitlan Guatemala.National Geographic listed it as the most beautiful lake in the world. It's stunning, and I have the great blessing of living there for the past 12 years.

[@peterkelly1665]

I vote for the myth so much more entertaining than reality . That aside a really entertaining presentation most enjoyable well done

[@HistoryCalling]

Thanks Peter and I agree, the myth is more fun :-)

[@declanmurphy417]

never knew that of how the isle of man was said to be formed between Ireland and the UK mainland Brilliant love your channel just subbed

[@littlemiss_76]

All four great grandparent's on my mother's side are Irish immagrants who come to Australia so I find it interesting to learn about my annciestors horme.

[@amymahers2957]

Ok, so I know science is important, but could we give the giants a break? Just this one time! I love this video and the “myth” about the giants. Isn’t it amazing that we all have stories such as this and deep down inside, we grudgingly give science her due, but love to hold onto the magic of our imaginations and legends. Great job as always. Thank you!

[@HistoryCalling]

Yes, the legends are more fun, for sure.

[@AmySarahSmith]

This was so interesting. You are a great story teller.

[@HistoryCalling]

Thanks Amy :-)

[@christydethlefs9850]

What a great story!! Thank you for this video

[@HistoryCalling]

You're welcome. I fancied showing off a bit of home history this week :-)

[@christydethlefs9850]

@@HistoryCalling we went to Ireland a few years ago and it was the most incredible trip ever. We didn’t see Giant’s Causeway but we did see the cliffs of Mohr and a lot of other beautiful things. I love your country 🇮🇪

[@johnwood6750]

When I was at college in Coleraine, I seem to remember the local supermarket had an island of Causeway stones in the car park (maybe on a roundabout?). So the vandalism is not all so very long ago.

[@HistoryCalling]

Oh dear. Unfortunately that sounds entirely possible. Fingers crossed though those stones were replicas.

[@eliscanfield3913]

@@HistoryCalling Or from someone's great-grandpa's back garden

[@flanamom]

Great video, sorry I missed this site when I was in Ireland in 2009. Does the site have any type of security these days to prevent its visitors from pilfering any of the stones?

[@HistoryCalling]

Hmm, I'm just thinking back to when I was there. It's open to the public, so I'm not sure if there are gates that they could close at night to block it off, but to be fair, those stones are wicked heavy, so it would be hard to take them (I imagine it was an even bigger nightmare back in the 18th century).

[@maryfenton958]

It's a magical place.., well worth a visit. 😍

[@HistoryCalling]

Hear, hear :-)

[@lynnlambert8745]

What a delightful and unusual programme! Concise and clear as ever, and quite a different topic. Thank you

[@HistoryCalling]

Thanks Lynn. Yes, I wanted to do something from home for a change, even though I kind of guessed that the video wouldn't do well as it's not about death and/or the Tudors.

[@Theturtleowl]

Lough Neagh monster idea: because the area is famous for stories about giants, why not let the giants have a pet who helped his owners fool the other giant? But, when the giant fled back to Scotland, he panicked and the poor pet was thrown far away, landing in the lake. With no way back, the pet decided to wait for his owners to find him in/near the lake. He is still waiting to this day.

[@markgarin6355]

Isn't it amazing that older artists seemed to not to be responsible for drawing what was actually there...but what they wanted to or kinda could draw? Time team constantly has historical renderings made by artists that were supposed to have been there, often showing...an artistic interpretation of what thought could have been there...not what they actually saw.

[@HistoryCalling]

Yes, I think these artistic impressions can be quite misleading. I always find it fascinating too when you look at age-progressed pictures of children, then at pictures (where available) of what the actual person grew up to look like. Sometimes they are very wide of the mark.

[@Al_Ellisande]

Sure is that not what the great Victor Ambrose did?

[@MK_Nay]

How fun!! I will be visiting in October and am even more excited than I was before! As always, LOVE your videos!

[@HistoryCalling]

Thank you and I hope you enjoy your visit. :-)

[@maggiewoodward5858]

Absolutely wonderful.. ❤

[@HistoryCalling]

Thanks you 😊

[@angiebond5139]

“…because tourists love that sort of thing.” 😂😂

[@naomiskilling1093]

I've been to the Causeway several times because as a student of Environmental Science at Ulster's Coleraine campus, it was a very popular site for field trips. Still, no matter how many times I go its still amazing to see the stones and they never have lost that air of magic for me even tho I know full well how they were formed...probably better than most considering my choice in field XD Another piece of media as well (besides the ones possibly already mentioned) which is heavily based on this area is the video game Dragon Age: Inquisition and its location of Storm Coast. Just add more caves, an underground dwarven city, and a lot more wolves, bears, and other nasty enemies and I feel like I'm on the Antrim coast.

[@susannawolfe8743]

Carcross Desert, Yukon, or Hopewell Rocks New Brunswick, but honestly ... a tiny desert, with proper vegetation where locals sand board the sand sloped dunes in the summer in a far northern subartic is a sight to behold.

[@HistoryCalling]

Those all sound amazing :-)

[@ennanitsua]

Omg how did I miss this video!?

[@melanieh8261]

Thanks!

[@HistoryCalling]

THANK YOU so much for supporting the channel Melanie and I hope you enjoyed the little virtual trip to Northern Ireland this week.

[@melanieh8261]

@@HistoryCalling You are very welcome! I absolutely did enjoy it! Thank you. Have a lovely weekend 😊

[@duckie8274]

I just learned of this place and myth a few days ago from a friend. She was there during a 2 week Ireland and Scotland trip.

[@HistoryCalling]

I hope had a good time and got better weather than we're having at the moment (there's lots of cloud outside my window as I type this!)

[@johnslaughter5475]

We have a lot of these basalt pillars where I live. They are fantastic and show just one of the many beautiful shapes that nature creates. It's not unusual for people, those with more money than they know what to do with, will have retaining walls made with them. I'm surprised that you've not learned the native language of your land. My great-grandmother immigrated to America from Ireland in the late 1800s. She died in 1905 as a result of childbirth. She was very young. Much too young to die before really experiencing life.

[@HistoryCalling]

That's awful that people would build retaining walls with such beautiful columns. It ruins it for everyone else (present and future). I'm sorry to read about your great-grandmother too. Thank goodness for modern medicine. I only wish she'd had access to it. Irish is only spoken fluently in a few places on the island called the Gaeltacht regions, but I'm not from any of them (they're all in the Republic of Ireland). To be honest, I've travelled to lots of different places in Ireland, but the only place I've ever heard people actually talking to each other in Irish was on Inis Mor, which is a Gaeltacht. Some people learn it in school of course, but from what I can tell, it seems to be similar to when I learnt French in school - I remember a few bits and pieces of it, but I was never fluent and haven't really used it since school finished.

[@johnslaughter5475]

@@HistoryCalling Actually, the columns being used for such things as retaining walls would otherwise have been destroyed. They are in the way of road construction, building, etc. So, they are saved and put in places where they enhance the beauty of the area. Thank you for the information on the Irish language. I didn't know. If I remember correctly, Inis means island. I looked it up once when watching "The Quiet Man" which takes place, supposedly, in Innisfree. It actually was filmed in and around County Mayo.

[@vernon2542]

That was a great story. Love hearing about different myths. Thanks

[@HistoryCalling]

You're welcome :-)

[@nathanfisher1826]

Very good, thanks great story!!

[@HistoryCalling]

Thanks Nathan. I fancied showing off a bit of home history this week :-)

[@peterosborne9101]

Great video

[@HistoryCalling]

Thanks Peter. Glad you enjoyed the little trip to my neck of the woods.

[@pauline3379]

Great video and I love the legend.

[@HistoryCalling]

Thank you. Me too :-)

[@danielbruns1675]

Your videos are fantastic!

[@tasanijanus7092]

Another fascinating video!

[@HistoryCalling]

Thanks Tasani :-)

[@namaschu2126]

Amazing place and thank you for the interesting story and information behind this phenomenon. The place is perfect for movies or series (like lord of the rings; game of thrones). And maybe also for a marriage proposal. According to the motto: no matter how rocky the path of life is, we walk it together 👍💚👰And yes pleace, tell us more about the irish history🏰

[@HistoryCalling]

They actually filmed some of Game of Thrones a few miles down the road (the bay where Theon Greyjoy arrives back in the Iron islands). Also, a couple of my friends actually did get engaged at the Causeway too :-)

[@joykoski7111]

Niagara Falls. I have lived most of my adult life in the city of Niagara Falls (Canadian Side) and never fail to see the beauty in it. Oddly, when we moved about 30km away I missed the roar of it. We never lived right next to it, but I guess the sound was just a background noise of the city. The silence was strange to me

[@HistoryCalling]

I'd love to see Niagara Falls. I just wish it wasn't so far away from me.

[@Sassenach4life]

I’ve never heard of the Giant Causeways! Thank you for sharing! I don’t know if I have a favorite landmark! Although I’ve always found the catacombs of Paris fascinating but I don’t want to ever go there lol! Idk if I would call that a landmark tho lol!

[@HistoryCalling]

You're welcome. I fancied showing off a bit of home history this week :-)

[@lorrainecasey749]

I live by the beach and when I look out to sea I can see the Isle of Man. I never knew how it got there🤯😉

[@HistoryCalling]

Haha, now you know. It was a grumpy giant!

[@nathalieriley6539]

Thank you for the video im going in may

[@HistoryCalling]

Have fun! :-)

[@carolinegreenwell9086]

fascinating, and your usual level of informative research ... thanks

[@HistoryCalling]

Thanks Caroline :-)

[@claire2088]

It's pretty depressing that so many humans seem to have the instinct "oooo I found this amazing bit of the natural world, I'll bring a bit home, take it totally out of context so it's not particularly impressive and damage the natural wonder while I'm at it!" Like, can we not just appreciate things in situ?!

[@HistoryCalling]

I know. They have no consideration either for all the other people (present and future) whose enjoyment of that object(s) they're selfishly destroying.

[@donnicholas7552]

Interesting video! I thought this area looked familiar! It was used by Led Zeppelin for their "Houses Of The Holy" album cover.

[@HistoryCalling]

Ahh! Someone else mentioned Led Zeppelin and I didn't understand the reference. It all makes sense now. Thank you :-)

[@Kay-jc3ub]

Love this!

[@heatherordonez1490]

I hope to visit the Giant's Causeway someday. I think my favorite natural landmark (so far) has been Denali National Park in Alaska. More specifically Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley) mountain.

[@HistoryCalling]

Someone else mentioned here in the comments how lovely Denali is. I had to confess that I was only aware of it because of the Twilight books 😳

[@heatherordonez1490]

@@HistoryCalling I want to take my family, since I went as a child myself. The unspoiled beauty is beyond compare.

[@CZPanthyr]

While I completely understand the scientific answer, the giants are much more interesting. Personally, in north America, I think that my favorite landmark is Devil's Tower, Wyoming, also a volcanic formation. It's a volcanic plug, and the native America stories about it are fascinating.

[@Al_Ellisande]

There's a story as well that the Isle of Mann was formed when the Devil (we loved these stories as wains...) took a bite out of one of the Mourne mountains and either spat or threw it into the sea. Slieve Bearnagh I think - it has a broken top. The Isle of Mann can be seen from Newcastle* which sits just at the foot of the Mournes. You can nearly see how these stories made sense, if you swap the Devil for one of those pre-Christian gods - Mannanan maybe, though he's looking towards Iceland atm. Likewise people would have traveled by curragh - a fast leather-bound boat - from our north coast up the west Scottish coast and may have seen "the other side" of the causeway. *On a good day, which is rare and even then you can't see for the crowds of people in Newcastle.

[@HistoryCalling]

Oh, I hadn't heard that story about the Isle of Man. It's a good one though. Thank you for sharing :-) Yes, Newcastle is always super busy. Murlough beach is lovely though.

[@melissabyrne8749]

Brilliant

[@TheDeadLepShow]

Also the album cover of Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy

[@anthonycalbillo9376]

Wonderful video!!!

[@HistoryCalling]

Thanks Anthony :-)

[@alicerivierre]

Totes awesome! From America to Ireland (Northern Ireland, I presume?) I send my love! ❤💚🧡☘🍀

[@HistoryCalling]

Thanks Alice. Yes, Northern Ireland and greetings across the pond :-)

[@alicerivierre]

@@HistoryCalling Aye, girl! ❤🇺🇸🇮🇪🇬🇧

[@shanenolan5625]

Cheers

[@luannnelson2825]

Are you familiar with Chimney Rock near Asheville, NC? If you’ve seen the Daniel Day Lewis movie version of The Last of the Mohicans, Chimney Rock is the cliff from which Cora jumps.

[@HistoryCalling]

No, but I'll Google it :-)

[@tha1nOnlyNatomi]

Hey, I love your videos! But are you watching "Becoming Elizabeth " on starz? I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd love to see your break down of this series!!

[@HistoryCalling]

I don't have Starz :-( I'm missing Outlander too. It's killing me!

[@lh384]

Science is FUN!!!!!

[@HistoryCalling]

Sure is. Almost as good as history 😆