Reblogged from my original series posted on March 15th 2011. Click here for original comments
Only 2 more days to GET YOUR IRISH ON . . .
This is one of my favourite places to visit -The Giant's Causeway. It is to be found on the Antrim Coast about 3 miles from the famous town of Bushmills (more about it tomorrow!) It is made up of approx 40,000 interlocking columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. (anyone who knows me, knows I love anything to do with volcanoes)
The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. (like an Olympic version of the game "Step on a Crack, break your Mother's back")
Most of the columns are hexagons, although there are also some with four, five, seven and eight sides. The tallest are about 36 feet high, and the solidified lava in the cliffs is 84 feet thick in places.
The Giant's Causeway is today owned and managed by the National Trust and it is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern Ireland.
My parents took 5 of my older brothers to Northern Ireland for a visit back in 1958. They wanted to show the older boys, aged 8, 6, & 4, The Giants Causeway, thinking they'd be excited to see such a natural wonder with their own eyes. To this day we laugh at what their reaction was: "You brought us all the way over here to look at a bunch of rocks?" The only way they could keep the boys interested was to share with them the legend of the Causeway:
Legend has it that the Irish warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool) who was a Giant, built the causeway to walk to Scotland to fight his Scottish counterpart Benandonner.
What many people don't realize is that you can see Scotland from many areas of the coast in Northern Ireland.
If you're planning a visit, make sure to include a stop just down the road a bit to Carrick-a-rede, another of my faves along the Antrim Coast.There you will find a Rope Bridge that links the mainland to the tiny Carrick Island. It spans 60 feet and is 90 feet above the rocks and ocean below!
Carrick-a-rede means "rock in the road" and it is thought that salmon fishermen have been erecting bridges to the island for more than 350 years.
It has been seen in many styles over the years - back in the 70's my Mother and Father crossed the bridge when it had only a single handrail and large gaps between the slats! 
Although no one has fallen off the bridge, there have been many an occasion of people unable to face the walk back across the bridge and needing to be taken off the island by boat. On my last visit, there was an attempt to rescue a beached whale down below - so sad! You'll often see messages written in the sand below before the tide comes back in.
I hope you enjoyed a quick glimpse into the wonders of my Northern Ireland and that you'll plan a visit sometime soon.
How many more days to get your Irish on?? Tick Tock
Previous in the Series:
14 Days to St Paddy's - The Shamrock Shake
13 Days to St Paddy's - Irish Wheaten Bread
12 Days to St Paddy's - Potato and Cabbage Soup
11 Days to St Paddy's - Pot Roast with Guinness Gravy
10 Days to St Paddy's - 10 Facts about Guinness
9 Days to St Paddy's - 9 Irish Toasts
8 DAYS TO ST PADDY'S DAY - TOP 8 IRISH NAMES
7 DAYS TO ST PADDY'S DAY - THE CLADDAGH RING
6 Days to St Paddy's Day - LEPRECHAUN PROTECTION
5 DAYS TO ST PADDY'S DAY - IRISH CUPCAKES
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