The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
COUNCIL IS URGED TO SUPPORT VALENTIA’S UNESCO BID
KERRY County Council must protect all the sites associated with the Historic Transatlantic cable in Valentia to ensure that UNESCO status is gained for the region.
The Valentia Transatlantic Cable Foundation has made an appeal to the local authority to support them in their bid for UNESCO status by ensuring that the sites involved in the transmitting of the very first transatlantic cable from Valentia island to Newfoundland are protected.
There are four sites involved in the bid: the key site is of course the former Cable station, which had been donated to the foundation for free. Other sites include the building where the first message was sent, the old slate yard, and Foilhommerum.
Progress is being made on the UNESCO bid for Valentia and earlier this year the initiative got a huge boost when Canada put Newfoundland on the tentative list for UNESCO status.
They are now working with the Irish Government in a bid to get recognition for this historic site.
The tentative list for UNESCO status opens next year and the successful projects will be announced in 2020 but, to be successful, everything must be in order.
UNESCO heritage expert Professor Alexander Gillespie from the University of Waikato in New Zealand has carried out an assessment of Valentia and has shown that it is ideal for this status.
There is only two other UNESCO sites in Ireland – one of which is also in South Kerry. The Skelligs were designated as a UNESCO site in 1996. The other Irish site is Brú na Bóinne which was designated in 1993. The UK has 31 sites and Spain 46 sites.
If granted, it would bring a minimum of 20,000 extra visitors a year to the region and possibly up to 100,000 visitors based on the attraction of other UNESCO sites around the world. It would also extend the tourist season and create full-time permanent jobs in the region. Most importantly it would reinforce Valentia’s place in the global history of communications.
“If gained it has enormous global potential. It is the next FEXCO for South Kerry,” said spokesperson Anthony O’Connell.
He gave a presentation to councillors at this month’s South and West Municipal District meeting on the bid and to seek councillors’ support for this project.
The project is feasible but there are two ‘buts’ which are in the hands of the Department of Heritage and Gaeltacht and Kerry County Council, he said. These are to protect the sites and ensure that Valentia gets on the tentative list.
Renovations are to take place on the Cable Station, including converting the first floor of the building into a digital hub, which will also be a huge boost to Valentia
Councillors and Kerry Count Council management have given their full backing to the UNESCO bid. It will be included as a key project in the local area plans which will be launched later this year.