The first transatlantic link was laid here in 1857, putting
Cahirciveen in direct contact with New York, even though no
connection had been established with Dublin. The history of the
Valentia - US cable can be viewed at the Valentia Heritage Centre
situated near Knightstown, the focal point of the island. This
event is only part of the history surrounding this mystical
island.
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.