On the north-east coast of Northern Ireland you can see a mass of unusually shaped rocks. Scientists say that that they were formed by a flow of lava into the sea about 60-65 million years ago. But when these amazing rocks were discovered in the late 17th century, it wasn't known whether they were formed by men with tools or naturally. So another theory went round, too - that they were the work of the giant called Finn McCool.

The story goes that Finn McCool was extremely strong. One day he was going about his daily duties when one of his enemies, a Scottish giant Fingal, started teasing him and shouting at him from across the channel. This annoyed Finn, so he lifted a huge piece of earth and threw it at the Scottish giant.
Fingal picked up a rock, threw it back at Finn and shouted, 'You're lucky there's water between us. I'm not a strong swimmer, otherwise I'd beat you up!'

Finn was furious and began lifting huge pieces of earth from the shore, throwing them so as to make a crossing for the Scottish giant. When he had finished, he shouted, 'Now you have no excuse. Come and face me!'
However, Finn McCool was extremely tired. He needed to rest before he fought the Scottish giant. So he decided to make a large cot, disguised himself as a baby, got inside and waited.

When Fingal came into his house and saw the baby, he couldn't believe his eyes. 'If the son is so huge, what size is his father?' With this thought, Fingal turned away and ran back, in terror, to Scotland, destroying the causeway as he went. He left in such a hurry that his boot came off and it is still there today. Fingal fled to a cave on the island of Staffa which is - to this day - called 'Fingal's Cave.'