European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 29, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Ireland is thousands of Black Geometric columns formed by nature or a legendary giant form the giant s causeway. Geological Freak has roots in Irish legends is photos by Deborah Absher the strange formations Are at the foot of sheer Cliffs. Folklore says finn Mccool built these stepping stones. By Deborah Absher staff writer in a Corner of Northern Ireland is the country s Best known tourist attraction and the eighth wonder of the world giant s causeway a mystical and spectacular landscape of 37,000 symmetrical Basalt columns jutting out of the sea. The strange Rock formations at the foot of sheer Cliffs that make up part of the causeway coast have been drawing visitors since 1693, when the Royal geographic society publicized them As a natural wonder. The legends behind the causeway s formation Are a big part of its draw. One Story is scientific and the other is folklore. Modern scientists explain the causeway As the result of subterranean volcanic activity some 60 million years ago. But that s such a Dull theory compared with the Folk version. And the geometrical regularity and stepping Stone effect of the columns make it difficult to believe that a Volcano alone was responsible. So the Irish have two versions of their own to explain the geological Freak.  popular version is that a giant finn Mccool was in love with a Giantess on the Island of Staffa off the scottish coast and built the stepping stones As a Highway to reach her and bring her Back to Ulster. The other version is that Mccool built the causeway so he could reach Scotland and do Battle with a giant there. Either Way the formations ended up being named giant s causeway. 9 the causeway is located off a Road that hugs the coast just a few Miles North of Bushmills Home of Bushmills Irish whiskey the oldest functioning whiskey distillery in the world and Worth a Quick visit on your Way to or from the causeway. The causeway can be visited any time of year although the causeway visitors Centre is open Only from mid March to late october. The Center includes an information Center slide show and gift shop. Several other shops Selling souvenirs and refreshments Are adjacent to the Center. As you leave the visitors Center you have an option of paths. One Asphalt path leads directly Down to the Black Geometric configurations but it s still about a half mile walk. A minibus also shuttles Back and Forth during the summer months. Several other paths meander from one to eight Miles starting at the same juncture behind the visitors Center and leading through a Field along the Cliff s Edge. The visitors Center has a leaflet showing the routes. The shortest path veers off to wooden Steps that run Down to the foot of the Cliffs and puts you close to the formations. Even at the Peak of the season you can find Solitude to explore or Ponder the strange formations sit on one of the columns and watch the wind whip the sea into breaking Waves and imagine a giant stepping his Way to Scotland. September 29, 7994 stripes Magazine