The Giant's Causeway (Clochán an Aifir)

Around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns on the Antrim coast, a UNESCO site wrapped in the legend of Finn McCool.

The Giant's Causeway (Clochán an Aifir) on the north Antrim coast is an extraordinary formation of around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, formed by ancient volcanic activity. It is Northern Ireland's only UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Legend tells that the columns are the remains of a causeway built by the giant Finn McCool (Fionn mac Cumhaill) to cross the sea to Scotland, and a matching formation appears at Fingal's Cave on the Scottish island of Staffa.

At a glance

• Around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns on the Antrim coast.
• Formed by ancient volcanic activity; a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• In legend, built by the giant Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool).
• A matching rock formation lies across the sea in Scotland.

In County Antrim

The Giant's Causeway is in County Antrim, Aontroim in Irish, which means “lone ridge”.

More in Antrim

• Rathlin Island (Reachlainn): Northern Ireland's only inhabited offshore island, an L-shaped seabird haven off the Antrim coast.
• The Glens of Antrim (Glinntí Aontroma): Nine green valleys running from the Antrim plateau down to the sea.
• Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (Carraig a' Ráid): A famous rope bridge swaying 30 m above the sea to a tiny fishing island.

Other places of this kind

• The Cliffs of Moher (Aillte an Mhothair): Sea cliffs located at the southwestern edge of the Burren region.
• Newgrange (Sí an Bhrú): A prehistoric monument in County Meath, older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids.
• Glendalough (Gleann Dá Loch): A beautiful glacial valley of two lakes, home to one of Ireland's most important early monastic settlements.
• The Rock of Cashel (Carraig Phádraig): A dramatic outcrop crowned with medieval buildings, once the seat of the kings of Munster.
• Clonmacnoise (Cluain Mhic Nóis): A great early monastery on the banks of the Shannon, once a renowned centre of learning.
• The Hill of Tara (Teamhair na Rí): The ancient inauguration site of the High Kings of Ireland, rich in myth and archaeology.

The Irish name

The Irish form of The Giant's Causeway is Clochán an Aifir. You can hear it spoken, and take apart names like it, in the Placename Explorer. The authoritative record for any Irish place-name is logainm.ie.