The GIANTS of Ireland and Scotland
Channel: Celtic History Decoded
Date: 27/08/2023

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The Giants of Ireland and Scotland

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:17 The Fomorians & the Tuatha Dé Danann
1:10 Giant's Causeway 
2:59 Other Versions of the Story: A Tragic Love Story 
5:13 Scottish Giant of Ben Ledi 
6:12 Subscribe and Support 

Giants play an interesting role in part of the mythology of both Ireland and Scotland. When you think of giants in Ireland, you probably immediately think of giant’s causeway (and we will get to that later) but there are other stories of giants in Ireland and Scotland.  

For instance, in Irish mythology, the Fomorians are sometimes referred to as giants. The Fomorians are depicted as being a monstrous supernatural race, enemies of the Tuatha Dé Danann, usually depicted as a more positive force compared to the Fomorians. The etymology of Fomorian, although it is debated, but be something close to the “the under(world) giants.”

The Fomorians originally were said to come from under the sea or the earth, and later were depicted as being giants and sea raiders. Some argue that they represent the wild and brutal forces of nature: such as chaos and darkness. In legend, the Tuatha Dé Danann are said to have defeated the Fomorians at the epic Battle of Magh Tuireadh. 

Now, if we turn out attention to the most famous giant story in Ireland: it’s of course Giant’s Causeway. Formed initially between 50 and 60 million years ago, and known to many as the 8th Wonder of the World, Giant’s Causeway in the north of Ireland was formed at a time when Ireland was still attached to North America. 

The otherworldly nature of this landmark led to ancient and more modern cultures to form stories about it. The most popular story goes something like this: the mythical Irish giant Finn MacCool built the causeway to get to Scotland and battle with a rival giant called Benandonner. The battle started by throwing massive stones at each other in a show of strength, one of them missed and became the Isle of Man. 

When Finn got to Scotland he found that the Scottish giant was asleep but also far bigger than himself, so Finn returned back across the causeway. When Benandonner woke up he came across the causeway intent on fighting Finn. In a panic about the approaching Scottish giant, Finn's wife dressed up her husband as a baby and when Benandonner arrived she said Finn wasn't home and to be quiet not to wake up the baby. 

When Benandonner saw the baby he decided that if the baby was that big, Finn must be massive. So he turned tail and fled back across the causeway ripping it up as he went. All that remains are the ends, at Giant's Causeway and on the island of Staffa in the inner Hebrides of Scotland, where similar formations are found, known as Fingal's Cave.

Sources:

Giant's Causeway | National Geographic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBARpgnYKvU 

Discovering Ireland: THE GIANTS CAUSEWAY, COUNTY ANTRIM https://www.discoveringireland.com/vacations/the-giants-causeway/ 

History of Giant's Causeway https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/giants-causeway/history-of-giants-causeway 

Fomorians https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fomorians 

Giant's Causeway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant's_Causeway 

Giant Lore of Scotland, Donald MacKenzie - http://www.royaldunfermline.com/Resources/GIANT_LORE_OF_SCOTLAND.pdf 

Ted-Ed - The Irish myth of the Giant's Causeway - Iseult Gillespie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQbyVYUob1o 

Fionn mac Cumhaill https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fionn_mac_Cumhaill 

#ireland #scotland #mythology 

Irish Mythology - Scottish Mythology - Giants - Giant's Causeway - Celtic Mythology