
Tourists told to stop shoving coins into rocks at Giant's Causeway
Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway draws close to one million visitors a year but their habit of wedging tiny coins in cracks between the rocks – to bring love or luck – is damaging the world-famous wonder.
Now authorities are urging tourists to keep their coins in their pockets to preserve the spectacular landscape.
Some 40,000 columns mark the causeway, Northern Ireland's first Unesco World Heritage Site.
Geologists say the natural phenomenon was created by an outpouring of basalt lava 60 million years ago.
Legend has it that the causeway was formed by Irish giant Finn McCool.
In recent decades, visitors have pushed thousands of coins into fissures in the rocks.
The gesture is "a token of love or luck", according to Cliff Henry, the causeway's nature engagement officer.
But the coins rapidly corrode and expand, causing the basalt to flake and leaving "unsightly" rust-coloured streaks, Henry said.
He pointed to streaks on a rock and gingerly prised out a US cent with a set of keys.
"We get a lot of euros and dollar cents. But coins from literally all over the world – any currency you can think of, pretty much – we have had it here," he said.
Giant's Causeway is Northern Ireland's first Unesco World Heritage Site. — AFP
A report by the British Geological Survey in 2021 revealed that the coins were "doing some serious damage" and something had to be done about it, he noted.
Signs are now in place around the site appealing to tourists to "leave no trace".
"Once some visitors see other people have done it, they feel that they need to add to it," said causeway tour guide Joan Kennedy.
She and her colleagues now gently but firmly tell tourists to desist.
At the exit from the causeway, a US couple said they were "distressed" to hear of the damage the metal caused.
"Our guide mentioned as we came up that people had been putting coins into the stones. It's really terrible to hear that," said Robert Lewis, a 75-year-old from Florida.
"It's kind of like damaging any kind of nature when you are doing something like that, putting something foreign into nature. It's not good," said his wife, Geri, 70.
As part of a £30,000 (170,970) conservation project, stone masons recently removed as many coins as they could – without causing further damage – from 10 test sites around the causeway.
Henry said the trial was successful and is to be expanded across the causeway.
National Trust's Nature Engagement Officer, Cliff Henry, looks for coins left by tourists in the cracks of the stones at the Giant's Causeway. — AFP
"If we can get all those coins removed to start with that will help the situation and hopefully no more coins will be put in," he said.
"If visitors see fewer coins in the stones and hear appeals to stop the damaging practice, the problem can maybe be solved.
"We know that visitors love and cherish the Giant's Causeway,and many form deep personal connections to it, so we want this natural wonder to remain special for future generations." – AFP

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Trump plays golf in Scotland as protests loom over visit
TURNBERRY (United Kingdom): US President Donald Trump was expected to play golf on the first full day of his visit to Scotland Saturday, as protesters prepared to take to the streets across the country. Trump's arrival at his Turnberry resort has turned this picturesque and normally quiet area of southwest Scotland into a virtual fortress, with roads closed and police checkpoints in place. Officers on quad bikes, police sniffer dogs and horses patrolled the storied links -- which has hosted four men's British Opens -- and its adjacent sandy beaches and grass dunes that hug the course. The 79-year-old leader touched down at nearby Prestwick Airport on Friday evening, as hundreds of curious onlookers came out to see Air Force One and try to catch a glimpse of its famous passenger. The 45th and 47th president has professed a love of Scotland, where his mother was born, but has controversial politics and business investments in the country have made for an uneasy relationship. Unsurprisingly, his five-day visit has divided the local community. 'A lot of people don't trust Trump and I'm one of them. I think the man is a megalomaniac,' retiree Graham Hodgson told AFP. 'He's so full of himself. I think he's doing a lot of damage worldwide with his tariffs. And I think it's all for the sake of America, but at the moment I think America is playing the price as well for his policies.' But at Prestwick Airport a boy held a sign that read 'Welcome Trump' while a man waved a flag emblazoned with Trump's most famous slogan -- 'Make America Great Again'. 'I think the best thing about Trump is he's not actually a politician yet he's the most powerful man in the world and I think he's looking at the best interests of his own country,' said 46-year-old Lee McLean, who had travelled from nearby Kilmarnock. 'Most politicians should really be looking at the best interests of their own country first before looking overseas, which unfortunately most leaders of the world actually do,' he told AFP. Trump's visit has seen Police Scotland embark on a massive security operation in which it has asked for support from other forces around the UK to bolster officer numbers. The Stop Trump Coalition has announced demonstrations near the US consulate in the Scottish capital Edinburgh and another in Aberdeen, where Trump owns another golf resort, for Saturday. Police will also be monitoring any other protests that might spring up near Turnberry. With no public meetings in the diary for Saturday, Trump was expected to jump in his golf cart and play what he called Friday 'the best course anywhere in the world'. He is due to discuss trade with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday and is also due to meet UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer while in Scotland. - AFP


The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Sri Lanka to waive visa fees for 40 more countries to boost tourism
COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan government has decided to waive visa fees for 40 additional countries to boost tourism, a senior minister said on Friday (July 25). Speaking at the "Hotel Show Colombo 2025" exhibition, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath stated that the decision was made at the recent cabinet meeting. Sri Lanka currently allows tourists from seven countries to visit the country without paying visa fees. The minister said the Treasury will lose about US$66 million in direct revenue by waiving these fees. However, the government expects greater indirect income through increased tourism. Tourism is one of Sri Lanka's main sources of foreign revenue. The country earned approximately US$.17 billion from tourism in 2024. - Xinhua


Daily Express
2 days ago
- Daily Express
Sabah welcomes new T'way charter service from Daegu
Published on: Saturday, July 26, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 26, 2025 Text Size: STB Deputy CEO Tay Shu Lan (sixth from right), STB Senior Marketing Manager Humphrey Ginibun (fifth from right) and T'way Air Regional Manager KK Airport Station Kim Minkeun (fourth from right) with T'way Air pilots and crew at KKIA. Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Tourism Board (STB) welcomed a new direct charter service by T'way Air from Daegu, South Korea, to Kota Kinabalu. Operating four times a week - every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday – this seasonal route runs from July 24 to Aug 24. The first flight, which landed at Kota Kinabalu International Airport at 9.35pm on Thursday, received a strong response with 182 passengers on board. This seasonal route marks a key development in enhancing international air connectivity to Sabah and is expected to significantly boost inbound tourism from South Korea, one of the State's key markets. 'We are thrilled to welcome T'way Air and its passengers to Sabah,' said Julinus Jeffery Jimit, CEO of the Sabah Tourism Board. 'This new charter flight service reflects Sabah's position as a key destination for South Korean travellers, known for their love of tropical nature and cultural discovery. We are confident this will be an important step in revitalising tourism flows and offering South Koreans easier access to the incredible experiences Sabah has to offer.' As of May 2025, Sabah received 76,685 South Korean visitors, reflecting a growing demand for the State's unique natural and cultural offerings. This seasonal charter complements T'way Air's existing daily service between Incheon and Kota Kinabalu, further reinforcing the airline's commitment to the Sabah market. Sabah offers a range of attractions perfect for South Korean tourists, including world-class diving, pristine islands, lush jungles, indigenous heritage and Mount Kinabalu – a Unesco World Heritage site. Known for their love of eco-tourism and tropical escapes, South Korean travellers will find Sabah an ideal destination for nature and adventure. This charter initiative is a result of close collaboration between Sabah Tourism Board, T'way Air and local tourism operators, further strengthening Sabah's position as a must-visit destination for travellers from South Korea. The Board is confident that this service will not only drive more immediate tourism growth but also set the stage for expanded air services in the future. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia