Ulster Splendid Tours Giants Causeway poster – Conn – 1930

Ulster Splendid Tours poster. Giants Causeway poster – Conn – c1930

Not only are the tours splendid, so is the artwork on this 1930 vintage Ulster travel poster. The image of a family walking on the Giant’s Causeway was illustrated by the artist WH Conn. The poster reads: Ulster Splendid Tours (well conducted) famous beauty spots, including Giant’s Causeway and Portrush -Highest standard hotels, Particulars Free. The poster was published by the Ulster Tourist Development Association Belfast. The Giant’s Causeway was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1986 and a national nature reserve in 1987.

In Irish legend, the columns of the causeway are the remains of a causeway built by the Irish giant Fionn mac Cumhaill or Finn McCool. McCool was a mythical hunter-warrior in Irish mythology,  also appearing in the mythologies of Scotland and the Isle of Man. According to the legend, McCool was challenged to a fight by the Scottish giant Benandonner. Fionn accepted the challenge and built the causeway across the North Channel so that the two giants could meet. In one version of the story, Fionn defeats Benandonner. In another, Fionn hides from Benandonner when he realises that his foe is much bigger than he is. Fionn’s wife, Sadhbh, disguises Fionn as a baby and tucks him in a cradle. When Benandonner sees the size of the “baby”, he reckons that its father, Fionn, must be a giant among giants. He flees back to Scotland in fright, destroying the causeway behind him so that Fionn would be unable to chase him down. Across the sea, there are identical basalt columns (a part of the same ancient lava flow) at Fingal’s Cave on the Scottish isle of  Staffa.

Conn’s poster illustration was extremely popular and was used in several different railway poster designs.

Our posters are carefully and professionally created from vintage originals. Whilst great care is taken in the production of these posters, we also try to maintain a vintage feel, so there may be small imperfections, fold marks, scuffs, tears, or marks that were part of the original poster master. If these do appear they should be visible on the larger views of the item on this listing. The originals of many of the posters we offer can cost many thousands of pounds, so whilst these posters look great, especially framed and mounted on a wall, they are intended as fun, affordable reproductions and not intended fine art prints.

The 50x70cm version has been specially produced to be used in conjunction with Ikea’s 50x70cm Ribba picture frame which currently retails for around £12. So you can bag a bargain of print and frame for a great price.