Author: valentiaadmin

In a historic reaffirmation of the bonds that have linked Valentia Island in County Kerry, Ireland, and Heart’s Content in Newfoundland, Canada, a delegation from Newfoundland recently visited Valentia Island. The visit, part of an ongoing UNESCO Heritage project, celebrated the pivotal role both villages played in the 19th century in connecting the Old and New Worlds through the transatlantic cable.

Historical Significance of Valentia and Heart’s Content

In the late 1800s, the successful connection of the transatlantic cable between London and New York via Valentia Island and Heart’s Content revolutionized global communications. This achievement positioned the two villages at the forefront of the emerging global communications industry, marking the beginning of globalization and bridging continents and cultures.

The Canadian Delegation’s Visit

Hosted by the Valentia Island Development Company and the Valentia Transatlantic Cable Foundation, in collaboration with Kerry County Council, the delegation from Newfoundland was led by the Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation. The delegation included several officials and members of the Heart’s Content community, reciprocating a visit from Kerry to Heart’s Content in August 2023.

Week-Long Activities and Engagements

During their visit, the Newfoundland delegation participated in various activities that underscored the historical importance of the Transatlantic Cable project:

• Tour of Historic Sites: The delegation toured significant sites such as the Cable Station, Foilhummerum Bay, Glanleam House, and the Heritage Centre, all central to the story of the transatlantic cable.

 

• School Visit in Chapeltown: Minister Crocker presented the school with a copy of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in September 2022, establishing a framework for cooperation between the two governments concerning the UNESCO World Heritage nomination for the Transatlantic Cable Ensemble.

• Community Reception: The delegation was honoured at a community reception at the Cable Station. Speeches by Minister Crocker and outgoing Cathaoirleach of Kenmare MD, Norma Moriarty, highlighted the deep historical and cultural ties between the two communities.

Collaborative Efforts for UNESCO Heritage Status

The visit aimed not only to celebrate shared history but also to foster future cooperation. Teams from both sides of the Atlantic worked on several important initiatives:

• Joint Management Structure: They collaborated on establishing a joint management structure and setting milestones for the UNESCO inscription journey.

 

• Community Partnership Workshop: A workshop was conducted to explore shared interests and identify joint projects with potential socio-economic benefits for both communities.

Conclusion of the Visit

The delegation’s visit concluded with a reception at the Canadian Embassy in Dublin, further solidifying the strong ties between Ireland and Canada. This visit represents a significant step in the ongoing efforts to achieve UNESCO World Heritage status for the Transatlantic Cable Ensemble. It also reinforces the historical connection and shared heritage between Valentia Island and Heart’s Content, promising to preserve their rich history and foster socio-economic development through shared cultural and historical projects.

 

Valentia Island Development Company C.L.G. (VIDCo) was formed by a group of people from Valentia Island who were interested in promoting the Island and helping it to be developed in a sustainable way and to make it a better place for future generations to live, work and play. Our aim is to help prospective entrepreneurs from Valentia realise their goals and open as many doors as possible for them, particularly by way of obtaining grants and offering advice and support for Start-Up operations. We would hope to see an increase in population especially in the younger generation to secure increased numbers in our school, retain and increase teacher numbers, have enough players available to field our own football teams and have adequate numbers to support our local Rowing Club and other sporting organisations.
VIDCo is a totally voluntary group and members give of their time without remuneration in any way. We face many challenges in our efforts to make Valentia a better place and when UNESCO became a possibility, we embraced it with open arms. We believe the benefits of World Recognition once again for Valentia would be of tremendous benefit to the entire Island and far beyond. We have established a strong partnership with Kerry Co. Co., the Irish Government and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Indeed, the project became a National one when it was put on the Irish Tentative List and the Government saw fit to send it on to Paris for UNESCO approval. UNESCO approval will not happen without the consent of the people of Valentia and UNESCO over the next number of years will seek to ascertain local approval as well as Site Authenticity, Outstanding Universal Value and other criteria. To keep everybody properly informed Kerry Co. Co. are advertising a full-time post for a coordinating officer who will be responsible for liaising with the people of the Island and different local groups.

Knightstown
The Valentia Cable Building is currently the only component of the ensemble currently submitted to UNESCO and VIDCo believes that there should be Planning Protection for the site to ensure that the world heritage application is successful. We support all development in Knightstown to include housing, commercial development, car parks and/or any other required infrastructure that would benefit the local community in line with the island’s recent Socioeconomic Plan.
We believe Knightstown needs to be able to meet the demands of increased numbers visiting the Island with the Greenway already underway. The village needs to be commercially developed and planning must reflect this. There is an urgent need for more commercial outlets of all types in the village. We also call on Kerry Co. Co. to designate an area for Casual Trading as it has done in other towns around the county. There is a real likelihood that Knightstown is in danger of being called ‘The village where you can’t buy a cup of coffee’.
We realise that the Water Treatment Plant is at full capacity and that is preventing further housing and commercial development in Knightstown. Again, we believe there is enough goodwill at the central government level to fast-track the necessary finance to expand this plant. VIDCo will use all its influence to bring this to fruition.
VIDCo believes that, once the funding for the water treatment plant is in place, the village boundaries need to be expanded to at least Batchelor’s Walk, Glanleam Cross and beyond. Bachelor’s Walk Road needs to be upgraded by widening the road and footpaths installed and continued to the Cable Station to complete the Three Roads Walk. This area should be zoned for Mixed Use to include housing. VIDCo has plans for a Digital Hub in the 28 rooms upstairs in The Cable Station as well as the Cable Experience Visitor Centre downstairs. It is expected that this will go to tender in early 2024. There is an urgent need for housing for the remote workers. We believe Remote Working will be the saviour of Rural Ireland and the Western Seaboard but without affordable housing, it will not happen.
VIDCo has purchased the Slate Yard and has plans to develop it into a Village Centre with proper landscaping. This will include the restoration of The First Message Building and its conversion to a Cable Museum with a small ticket office/tourist information office and coffee shop adjacent. We expect the Slate Yard to be a focal point of the Village with outdoor seating, tables and planting etc., a place that Valentia can be proud of.
It is vital that the infrastructure in Knightstown is upgraded to allow for the expansion and development of the local Royal Valentia Hotel. This would increase accommodation capacity and allow for more visitors to spend time and money in the area and boost the local economy.

Knightstown Marina
As a follow-up to the investment in the breakwater system at Knightstown Marina, we would like to get this project re-introduced on the Kerry Co. Co. list of priorities.

Reenard Point
We would like to see it as an objective on the LAP that the slipway at Reenard Point be repaired and expanded to facilitate and future-proof the Valentia Ferry operation which is an essential corridor to the island and necessary to facilitate the increased volume of visitors that will result from the greenway and potential UNESCO status.

Chapeltown
Chapeltown has been designated for light industry. VIDCo supports this and to this end, we are in the process of purchasing land on which we hope to develop an Industrial Site where we would build small industrial units to be leased to prospective clients somewhat similar to Dromid. We would hope that this would have the approval of Kerry Co. Co. and we ask the planning team to consider this in the LAP. We are also recommending that a recreation area/park should be planned in Chapeltown – we believe that this would enhance the quality of life of the Chapeltown community.

Affordable Housing
VIDCo acknowledges that the greatest need on the Island is Affordable Housing. One of Fionan Murphy’s greatest constraints to expanding Murphy Marine is the lack of housing for his workers locally. Also, there is capacity for 18 jobs at Valentia Radio Station. Some are still vacant because of a lack of affordable housing and only one of the staff now lives on Valentia. To provide Affordable Housing VIDCO is in the process of acquiring a site on the outskirts of Chapeltown. We would like to see the boundary of Chapeltown Village extended on all roads and Residential Planning be allowed. Kerry Co. Co. purchased a site for a Water Treatment Plant for Chapeltown over 25 years ago. We believe this could be developed as ICW (Integrated Constructed Wetlands) to serve the village, at a reasonable cost and, yes, UNESCO Designation can be used as a means of raising the required capital from the Central Government for this.

Valentia Lighthouse
Valentia Lighthouse is one of the main visitor attractions on the island with a major impact on the local economy, drawing in excess of 20k visitors every year. The road to Valentia Lighthouse has been eroded and undermined by sea storms and now there is a serious danger of the lighthouse becoming totally cut off. There is an urgent need for the road and car park to be repaired.

Heritage sensitive areas
VIDCo is aware of the UNESCO stipulation for a protected zone around industrial world heritage sites. The Valentia sites are required to comply with UNESCO criteria but it is our firm understanding that development will be permitted within these areas as stated by the Kerry Co. Co. planning department. We, however, submit that these “sensitive heritage areas” be kept to an absolute minimum and that the area around Foilhommerum, and the land area indicated across the channel to Portmagee, be removed from the Local Area Plan, These areas are already protected as Heritage Sites and Special Areas of Conservation. We believe in the long-term positive impact of the UNESCO designation as a key element for the future development of the local community. The progression of the UNESCO project in the future will secure funding for the refurbishment of the Cable Station and the development of a digital hub that would enable remote working and services to the community. We believe that strategic development around the UNESCO designation and the Greenway will leverage funding for infrastructural development, housing and recreation areas to be developed on the island.

Valentia Island Development Company C.L.G.
31st October 2023

If you want to support us or have your say about the future of Valentia, please register and make your own submission HERE. The last day for submissions is the 3rd of November 2023.

One of the Great Lighthouses of Ireland, a tour of the lighthouse at Cromwell’s Point is a must on your visit to the island. Valentia Island Lighthouse tours at Cromwell Point is a community initiative delivered by the Valentia Island Development Company. This is in collaboration with Kerry County Council and the Commissioners of Irish Lights with the support of the South Kerry Development Partnership.

Valentia Lighthouse at Cromwell Point is maintained by the Commissioners of Irish Lights. It is a harbour light to guide vessels from the sea and lead them through the northern entrance of Valentia Harbour past Harbour Rock.

The site of the Cromwell Point Lighthouse was originally home to a 17th century Cromwellian Fort, which was one of two built on Valentia Island around this time. The outline fort with its bastions and barrack inside its wall can still be easily traced from the air, lying just inside the lighthouse enclosure wall.

The fort was maintained after the Restoration and there are various State Paper entries about its repair over the period 1663-1665. It was disestablished in 1669. The first light for Cromwell Point was originally applied for on 30 March 1828 by the Right Honorary Maurice Fitzgerald, Knight of Kerry. Work commenced on the lighthouse ten years later in 1838, the light was first exhibited on 1 February 1841. Since November 1947 the light has been automated.

Originally the lighthouse was staffed by a single keeper, housed with his family on site, however, with automation, the keeper was withdrawn and a part-time attendant was appointed to look after the station.

Location: The Promenade, Knightstown, Valentia Island

Prior to the laying of the Transatlantic Cable, it took approximately two weeks for a message to reach North America from Europe… weather permitting as all communications were sent via boat.

The idea of a transatlantic cable was first proposed in 1845, but the distances and depths presented formidable problems. In 1856 the Atlantic Telegraph Company was registered with a capital of £350,000 (then about $1,400,000). On the American side, Cyrus W. Field was the driving force; on the British side, it was Charles Bright and brothers John and Jacob Brett.

The First Cable

The manufacture of the cable started in early 1857 and was completed in June. Before the end of July, it was stowed on the American Niagara and the British Agamemnon — both naval vessels lent by their respective governments for the task. They started at Valentia Harbour in Ireland on 5 August. For the first few days, everything went well but six days later, due to a mistake made with the brake which limited the rate of descent, the cable snapped. Just 380 miles had been laid.

The ships were forced to return to port. An extra 700 miles of cable was made for the second attempt which began on 25 June 1858. This time the same two ships met each other in the mid-Atlantic where they joined their respective ends. The cable broke almost immediately. Again the two ships made another splice: this time they managed 40 miles before it broke again. The fourth time they had laid 146 miles before the cable was lost yet again. It was clear that this was not going to be easy!

The two ships returned to Ireland but it was decided that, despite the loss of a considerable amount of cable, they still had enough for a further attempt. On 29 July, they made their fifth attempt, again starting from the mid-point. This time it worked! On 5 August 1858, both ships reached their destinations – Valentia Harbour in Ireland and Trinity Bay in Newfoundland. The two continents were joined.

On 16 August communication was established with the message “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill to men.” Unfortunately the engineer in charge, Wildman Whitehouse, started by applying very high voltages rather than the very weak currents that had been tested during the cable laying. Within three weeks the damage inflicted on the cable by the high voltages was becoming apparent and it ceased to work.

The Second Cable

It took several years before another attempt was made. This time a single ship was chartered, the enormous Great Eastern, by far the largest ship of its day. She started from Valentia at the end of July 1865 and succeeded in laying 1,200 miles before the cable snapped. Several attempts were made to retrieve the broken end but they all failed.

Third Time Lucky

After so many failed attempts, the final, successful, cable was laid with virtually no problems. On 27 July 1866, the cable was pulled ashore at a tiny fishing village in Newfoundland known by the charming name of Heart’s Content. The distance was 1686 nautical miles from Valentia Island. The Great Eastern had averaged 120 miles a day while paying out the cable. The first message sent on this, finally successful, cable was: “A treaty of peace has been signed between Austria and Prussia”. Queen Victoria, then at Osborne, in the Isle of Wight, sent a message to the President of the United States. “The Queen congratulates the President on the successful completion of an undertaking which she hopes may serve as an additional bond of Union between the United States and England.”

Almost immediately, the cable opened for business but only the very wealthy could afford it – the initial rates were a startling $1 a letter, payable in gold – at a time that a monthly wage for a labourer might be $20.

It is interesting to note that even though later cables could carry large numbers of signals at the same time, it was not until the 1960s that the first communication satellites offered a serious alternative to the cable when in 1966 the Transatlantic Cable Station closed its doors for the last time.

UNESCO World Heritage Bid

In May 2016, the Valentia Transatlantic Cable Foundation Board was established to assist the Valentia Island Development Company with fundraising for the Transatlantic Cable UNESCO World Heritage Designation project.

The foundation was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in December 2016 with the objective of raising and application of money and other resources to advance the scientific heritage of, and community development on, Valentia Island and to promote Valentia Island as a site which should be included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

The foundation’s goal is to secure the required support and funding (estimated to be approximately €4.5m) by raising the profile of the project at the national and international level while engaging with state funding opportunities and private donors.

You can find out more about the UNESCO World Heritage Project and the Valentia Island Lecture Series at valentiacable.com and the Valentia Island Lecture Series at valentiacable.com