Trip to the Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland

Yesterday, we traveled on a ferry to the county Antrim, in Northern Ireland.  In Antrim, we saw Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and Dunluce Castle.

First we stopped at Giant's Causeway. Giant's Causeway was formed when hot basalt lava came up through the space between tectonic plates 60 million years ago.  When the lava cooled, the rock cracked leaving behind ~40,000 pentagon, hexagon and septagon shaped rocks. 

There is an Irish legend that explains how this "Giant Causeway" was made.  One day, an Irish giant named Finn McCool decided to dual another giant named Benador from Scotland.  To win the dual, one giant had to build a causeway to the other giant's country.  Whoever got to the other country first, won the dual.  Now, Finn McCool did not know how large his opponent was, until the next day Benador came over to discuss the rules of the dual.  Looking out the window of the house, Oonagh (Finn's wife) saw how large Benador the Scottish giant was.  She did not want Finn to lose the dual, so she came up with an ingenious plan!  She disguised Finn as a baby, and laid him on the bed.  "Knock, Knock,"  The Scottish giant knocked on Finn's door.  Ooonagh let him in.  "Is Finn here?" he asked.  "No," said Oonagh, "But would you like to meet our baby son?"  Benador yelped when he saw how large "The Baby" was.  Benador took one look at the baby and decided Finn must be huge.  He said, "Tell Finn I have decided not to dual him."  When the Scottish giant went home he tore up all the rocks on Finn's door step, carrying some of these hexagon shaped rocks home to Scotland.  The strange thing about this legend is that there are actually identical stones in Scotland!

Giant's Causeway - Matthew & Nicole

Giant's Causeway - Jennifer, Nicole & Matthew

Next, we stopped at Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.  This rope bridge was built for catching salmon.  It connects from the mainland (Northern Ireland) to a tiny island about 100-200 feet away.  The reason why fisherman built this bridge, is to catch the salmon swimming down below. Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is located 30 meters above the ocean.

Yesterday was extremely windy and cloudy when we crossed the bridge.  Jennifer thought that it was "extremely high and unstable," because it was so windy.  Nicole and Matthew thought it was really fun.

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge - Nicole & Matthew

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge - View of the Antrim Coast

Finally, we stopped at Dunluce Castle.  A fortress that survived many sieges, it was built by the powerfull MacDonnell Clan.  In the late 1600's Lady Antrim's dinner was interrupted, when half of the kitchen fell into the sea, including the servants.  This is when she informed the Earl of Antrim that they should move inland and they abandoned the castle.  Considering the wind coming off the ocean here we can see why.

Dunluce Castle

Dunluce Castle