Valentia Island is one of Ireland’s most westerly points and has an extraodinary history which is reflected in the landscape, architecture, culture and people of the place. It lies off the Iveragh Peninsula in the southwest of County Kerry. Access to the island is via the Maurice O’Neill Memorial Bridge at Portmagee or by car ferry from Reenard Point to Knightstown which operates from April to October. Some of the must see locations are The Slate Quarry, The Lighthouse, Knightstown, Geokaun Mountain, Bray Head and The Skellig Islands. This is the idyllic setting for sailing, fishing, kayaking, diving, coasteering, cycling, walking, rock climbing and lots more. There’s always lots happening on the island, food and music festivals, triathlons and children’s events.

In the 19th century Valentia played an important part in telecommunications between Europe and America. Before the laying of the transatlantic cable it took nearly two weeks to get a message to America from Europe (the time it took a boat to cross the Atlantic). The first transatlantic telegraph cable was laid across the floor of the Atlantic Ocean from Telegraph Field, Foilhommerum Bay, Valentia Island to Heart’s Content in eastern Newfoundland. The first communications occurred in 1858, reducing the communication time between North America and Europe from approximately ten days to a matter of minutes.