UNITED KINGDOM, Northern Ireland

UNITED KINGDOM. Northern Ireland.

The Giant's Causeway.
50th Anniversary of the National Trust for Scotland.
Pictorial representation.
Forth stamp in a set of 5, issued on 24.06.1981.
Face value: 22 British pence.
Printed by Harrison & Sons (High Wycombe) Ltd.
Printed: Photoengraving.
Print: 9,920,000 copies.
Size: 41 x 30 mm.

Catalogues
- Michel No. 882.
- Scott No. 948.
- StampWorld No. 863.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 1158.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 999.

The Giant's Causeway (in Irish: Clochán an Aifir), discovered in 1693, is an area containing some 40,000 columns of basalt from the relatively rapid cooling of volcanic lava, which occurred about 60 million years ago. It is located on the north-eastern coast of the island of Ireland, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1986 and a National Nature Reserve in 1987. 

According to legend, Irish giant Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn MacCool) was challenged to a fight by the Scottish giant Benandonner. Fionn accepted the challenge and built the causeway across the North Channel so that the two giants could meet. In one version of the story, Fionn defeats Benandonner. In another, Fionn hides from Benandonner when he realises that his foe is much bigger than he is. Fionn's wife, Oonagh, disguises Fionn as a baby and tucks him in a cradle. When Benandonner sees the size of the 'baby', he reckons that its father, Fionn, must be a giant among giants. He flees back to Scotland in fright, destroying the causeway behind him so that Fionn would be unable to chase him down. In overall Irish mythology, Fionn mac Cumhaill is not a giant but a hero with supernatural abilities.