VALENTIA ISLAND - OILEÁN BHÉIL INSE

Geography

Valentia Island, situated off the coast of the Ring of Kerry, is the most westerly point of Western Europe. Next stop west of Valentia is the U.S.A. 1900 miles of ocean away. Easily accessible with a Car/Passenger Ferry operating from 1st April to 30th September from Renard Point to Knightstown, and by road via the Portmagee Bridge, many tourists flock to this island annually because of Valentia's historical significance and natural beauty.

There are various types of accomodation available on the island ranging from B&B's, Guesthouses, Self-Catering, and Hostels.

The main village on the island is Knightstown, called after the "Knight of Kerry" who formerly owned the island. It is the main hub of activity on the island. There are a number of bars and restaurants on the island with a reputation for some excellent food. The other village on the island is Chapelstown - a lot quieter then Knightstown.

History

Valentia will be of interest to the local (Wicklow) historian as Captain Robert Halpin, who lived in Wicklow at Tinakilly House and was born in the Bridge Tavern, was master of the Great Eastern, the ship which laid the first transatlantic cable. For more information visit http://www.ieee.org

The slate quarry opened in 1816 provided one of the main sources of income for the island. This quarry was used to supply flagstones and roof-slates for some of the most famous buildings in the world, including the "House of Commons" at Westminister and the London and San Salvadore train stations.

Also of interest to the history buff on Valentia Island, geologists discovered the earliest fossilised footprints of a prehistoric creature ever found in Europe, and possibly the world. The 385 million years old Tetrapod footsteps fossils are a major archaeological discovery. They have attracted interest from archaeologists world-wide and was featured in "National Geographic" magazine in May 1999, in an article entitled "The rise of life on earth" by Keri Westenberg

Archaelogists will find Valentia a fantastic window to the past as there are signs of habitation from 6,000 years B.C. There are plenty of early Celtic Church remains around the island as well as numerous standing stones, wedge tombs, remains of castles and Ring forts.

The "Skellig Experience", situated just when one crosses over the island via road, is a must to visit. It contains exhibitions of the life and times of the monks who lived on the island and is an ideal place to go if visiting the Skellig Islands for background information.

The Glanleam Estate is another major tourist attraction. The former residence of "The Knight of Kerry" (the Fitzgerald family), it is now a converted guest-house open to the public offering the most westerly Sub-Tropical gardens in Europe - the profusion of colour is remarkable. These gardens are open to the public, and offer a Tea-room for refreshments.

The Heritage Museum in Knightstown portrays life and conditions on the Island in pictorial and written form from the last century. It also covers the Western Union involvement with Valentia, and the meteorological station, and coastal marine Radio Station, and Valentia Life-Boat.

Activities

Pitch and putt and golf facilities are to be found on the island, however the main activities that the island has to offer are perhaps angling and scuba diving. The Island shores are bathed by the Gulf Stream contributing to its abundant sea life.

There are three main diving centres available on the island - Des Lavelles, the Dive Centre and the Valentia Island Sea Sports Centre. Dive sites accessible from Valentia include The Skelligs, Bray head, Puffin Island, Oilean an Iasc, Dolus Head, The Birds, The Wrecks and Valentia Harbour. For more information on the above dive sites visit Dive Valentia or Lavelles

Angling Vessels are available for hire on a Daily rate, also portion of a day, and an hourly rate can be arranged.

Walking is a pleasure on any part of the Island and there are three approved walks complete with stiles ranging in length and terrain from 2 hours to 7 hours. (See Map at tourist office in Knightstown)

Bicycles are available for hire at Knightstown on a Daily or portion of a day basis. Cycling is safe on the relatively traffic free roads of the Island.

There are four pubs on the Island, two in Knightstown, and two in Chapeltown. During the holiday season they each offer music on various nights. Food is also available in these premises.

There are many restaurants on the Island offering a very wide range of menu's and value for money.

Diving

The Skellig Islands are two of the underwater jewels in Ireland's dive-crown. Every dive-boat from every creek between Dingle and Derrynane will ultimately make the journey there! Little wonder that they do; this magical place still amazes and excites like a new-found discovery, time after time.

It is here that the warm Gulf Stream first touches the Irish coast, bringing its frequent, international visitors to the Skelligs: trigger fish, basking sharks, minke whales, dolphins, and the occasional leatherback turtle. A wreck-fish that may have followed a piece of flotsam halfway across the Atlantic could suddenly decide that the shadow of your boat offered a better habitat for the day!

But apart from the exotic visitors, Nature has run riot in local sea life - the colours, the anemone-clad walls, the grey seals who always arrive wide eyed and curious to inspect the latest human intruders, the guillemots, razorbills and puffins who 'fly' more adroitly underwater than they do in air. And gannets - 27,000 pairs of them, the ultimate 'free divers' of the ocean's skies!

At the Skelligs, what you see is what you get, and the landscape overhead is a good indication of what lies below. Steep cliffs continue as sheer underwater walls; bird filled ledges continue as jagged steps, reaching down to 40m on the south side of the islands, and 55m on the exposed western faces before any trace of level bottom appears. It is a place for experienced divers only, and for suitably qualified groups with all their own equipment, including air, Des Lavelle, a dive skipper with many years experience, can offer day-trip-boat services - and the opportunity of landing on Skellig Michael and visiting all that this special island has to offer.

Driving instructions for Valentia