Valentia Island, Ireland

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.

Parent Map

Digital Victorians map

Coordinates

Latitude: 51.908173442413
Longitude: -10.355558395386

View on the COVE Master Map

Timeline of Events Associated with Valentia Island, Ireland

Date Event Manage
Aug 1858

First attempt at transatlantic 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.

Articles

John M. Picker, “Threads across the Ocean: The Transatlantic Telegraph Cable, July 1858, August 1866″