Valentia Island lies off the Iveragh Peninsula in the southwest of County Kerry, in the Republic of Ireland. It is approximately 11km long and 3km wide. Valentia was the eastern terminus of the first transatlantic telegraph cable.
In August, 1858, to riotous celebrations in the United States, in which fireworks destroyed the cupola of New York’s City Hall, the first cable was successfully completed between Valentia, Ireland and Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, only to cease functioning within a month.