Valentia celebrates its historic telegraph

THE Transatlantic Telegraph Cable Festival gets underway in Valentia this evening, and festival lead Anthony O’Connell says the community is set to commemorate the historic laying of the vital infrastructure from beautiful Foilhommerun Bay in appropriate style.

“150 years ago this week the introduction of the Cable changed life on Valentia and the region for the better. We hope the events of this week will do that justice,” Mr O’Connell told The Kerryman.

Commemorations tonight (Wednesday) will be illuminated by musical entertainment and a fireworks display over the Bay, as the festival will be formally opened by Mayor of Kerry Michael D O’Shea after the celebratory walk ends at cable monument.

There’ll also be robotic workshops, a cable swim, walking and cycling tours of historical points, and a celebration Dinner on Thursday, July 14.

Professor Donard De Cogan, an historian with an exceptional body of research done on the Transatlantic Cable, will present his research and launch his book ‘They Talk Along the Deep – 100 Years of Cable History’ this evening at 7.30 in The Royal Hotel, and he’ll make a second appearance at a lecture in Knightstown’s St John the Baptist Church on Friday at 7.00pm.

A special exhibition including prints of the famous Dudley paintings will be on display in the Cable Station and a full cable exhibition is available throughout the summer months at the Valentia Island Heritage Centre, which also plays host to a special exhibition of the Transatlantic Cable.

It is expected that the celebratory dinner will be attended by upwards of 200 guests, including direct descendants of notable figures connected with the original cable.

“We’ve descendants of Cyrus Field, the great entrepreneur responsible for turning a vision to reality, and the Graves family, descendants of James Grave, the first superintendent of the Cable Station.

“We’ll also have Sir Adrian Fitzgerald, 24th Knight of Kerry,” Mr O’Connell explained, adding: “It’s one of the highlights of what will be a superb week.”