Valentia is well known as the European end of the first transatlantic telegraph cable and there is plenty of evidence left of this birth of global telecommunications. The First Message Building was a store in Valentia Slate quarry’s slate yard that was rented to the first cable company. We are very proud of this link to the birth of global telecommunications!
In 1858, the first message between Europe and North America was transmitted from our building with the cable running out into the Atlantic north of Beginish Island. This initial attempt failed after a few weeks and there were subsequent attempts that resulted in a commercially viable link in 1866.
The first commercial cable landed at Foilhommerum Bay near the car park from where you walk to Bray Head. A small building in the “Telegraph Field” near here was the first cable station. Later, a large building in Knightstown was constructed and this, known as the Cable Station served as the European end of this transatlantic cable until the system was closed down in the 1960’s.