Clochán an Aifir (The Giant’s Causeway)

Cherry

By Turlough

Fri, 09 May 2025
  • 174 reads
17 comments
 

 

Clochán an Aifir (The Giant’s Causeway)

 

Snaking down the Shepherd’s Steps

Forty furlongs beneath my Father’s glen

I’m stalled by the same brutal wind

From which tempests rose

As maelstroms brewed

To disperse the armada, Queen Liza’s foes

Spanish timbers, Spanish souls

Splintered warships, soldiers hurled

And swallowed in the gelid brine

Of the Straits of Moyle

A wretched few

Clammered on Port Noffer rocks

To meet only Lord Fitzwilliam’s sword

But some survived

They’re Irish now

 

On my lofty ledge atop Aird Snout

Sedated by its salty air

I feel and smell and drink the sea

As myth and folklore entrap me

This place I’ve loved two thousand years

Here Fianna’s chieftain, Fionn mac Cumhaill

Soared above the mortal world

Built forty thousand stepping stones

With basalt and his own heart’s blood

Sent Alba’s fierce Benandonner

Fleeing home to Fingal’s Cave

 

Shadows of clouds kissing coves and cliffs

Dance jigs to darken greens above

But nothing here could dull my head

Our pagan gods grew smaller

‘til they became the faeries

Warriors surging broad and long

Stood fearless, grown as giants

In caves and bar-rooms they live on

Through haunting legends never scribed

Erin’s elders visit me

Like her poets and musicians

They possess my mind and tongue

 

Image:

My own photograph of Clochán an Aifir (The Giant’s Causeway).

 

 

Certificate U
Poem
Poetry in Commotion
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by seashore on

How much did you already know or research about this?
Did you live near it at one point?

Ah, just read the bit where you answer my above question.

Brilliant use of language, I don't know how you do it. x

Submitted by Turlough on

When I was a kid we lived in a place called Ballymoney, twelve miles inland from the Causeway. My dad was born and grew up in Cushendall, thirty miles eastwards along the Antrim Coast Road.

I knew most of this already but had to Google to refresh place names such as the Shepherd's Steps and Port Noffer. I also already knew much of the mythology surrounding the giant Fionn mac Cumhaill (pronounced Finn MacCool) but learnt a lot more by doing my bit of research. I learnt too much to include in the poem. 

Thanks very much dear Coral for your kind comment. x

Turlough

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

As seashore says, wonderful use of language and a brilliant Inspiration Point response - thank you!

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Thanks for your kind comment IPFN, and thanks for the cherries.

Turlough

Submitted by Schubert on

'Craicing' poem Turlough. Finn MacCool meets the Irish Tourist Board!

Submitted by Turlough on

Ta Schubert.

Finn hung up his seven-league boots when Arlene Foster came on the scene. Far too fierce a character for him to contend with.  

Turlough

Submitted by Schubert on

She was very like the wonderful no-dicks-on-the-table Mo Mowlam for no nonsense being tolerated.

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

This is such a stirring poem Turlough. Some wonderful bits of history expressed with passion that flows through your written words.

Very much enjoyed reading.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Thanks for that Jenny. I'm very pleased that you enjoyed it.

Turlough

Submitted by celticman on

you are indeed, possessed, each step a furlough, each furlough a step into the past and present. 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

And sometimes I feel like I'm coming up to the final furlong marker... in my sheepskin nose band.

Turlough

Submitted by sean mcnulty on

Fionn was the brute we need these days.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Aye Sean! Up the Fomorians!

Turlough

Submitted by D G Moody on

What an excellent poem, I so enjoyed it, and it reminded me of that place - Bravo Turlough!

Dougie Moody

Submitted by Turlough on

Thanks very much Dougie. I'm really pleased that you liked it and even more pleased that you've been there. It's a magic place.

Turlough

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I like the thought that the wind is the same, exploring history. And your rhythm line by line made me think of the way the causeway punches up. A wonderful feeling of magic and old beliefs

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Thanks very much Di. I always have strange feelings when I go there. The National Trust have built a big visitor centre there now that spoils the atmosphere a bit (and costs a lot to go in) but it'll always be a special place.

Turlough