Globally significant volcanic event formed Giant’s Causeway, scientists find
Geochronologists say Antrim coastline’s basalt columns developed over 5.5m years – 8m less than thought For centuries, the tale has been passed from generation to generation: how the Irish giant Finn McCool built the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland to fight Benandonner, his Scottish rival, by hurling chunks of the Antrim coastline into the sea. Now, scientists have revealed it was intense volcanic activity during a “major globally impacting volcanic event” – and not a legendary battle betw…

