The 'fiddly and frustrating' work removing 10,000 coins from Giant's Causeway columns
Conservationists remove the equivalent of 10,000 coins that had been wedged into the Giant's Causeway's pillars.
Over the course of years, approximately 10,000 coins have been painstakingly extracted from the columns of Giant's Causeway, a World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland. Conservationists have successfully removed more than 20kg (44.1 lb) of coins from between the basalt pillars to prevent damage to the iconic structure. Dr. Cliff Henry, nature engagement officer with the National Trust, expressed relief at the removal of the coins, which were causing significant damage through rusting and expansion.
He explained that the coins were putting pressure on the rock columns, causing them to push upwards. The practice of inserting coins into the causeway began years ago, and while initially just a matter of luck or love, it has since become a problematic issue. Dr. Henry described the removal process as both fiddly and frustrating, as some coins were stubbornly stuck.
Specialist stonemason Nathan Morrow assisted in the extraction, using pliers and grouting tools to free the coins. New signage has been placed at the site to discourage visitors from placing coins in the causeway, with the Trust urging them to donate coins to charity instead. The National Trust is now considering turning the collected coins into an exhibition piece to raise awareness about the potential harm they can cause.
The Giant's Causeway, formed by intense volcanic activity, is located in County Antrim and is steeped in legends about the ancient giant Finn McCool.
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