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.
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