Oileán: An Dá Thaobh

In the 19th century Valentia became synonymous throughout the world with the greatest advance in communications technology. The transatlantic cable in 1866 connected the new world with the old and the story of the attempts to lay the cable are fascinating. But it's also story of an island that was divided between the indigenous island community and the English who came to live and work in the cable station.

Four attempts were made to lay the cable between Valentia and Newfoundland between 1857 and 1866. The first attempt had two ships leaving Cork harbour together with enough cable between them to make the journey if they spliced it together midway across the Atlantic. The second had both ships meeting in the middle of the ocean, connecting the two cables and going in opposite directions. This attempt was successful briefly, and more significantly for our story, now featured Valentia as the European landing point.

The Knight of Kerry's influence was responsible for this change of direction for the cable from the mainland. He offered a temporary cable station in the offices of Valentia slate for the purposes of the second attempt. Coincidentally Micheál Lyne of the newly resurrected Valentia slate, has offices in the old cable station constructed after the 4th and final successful cable attempt in 1866.

Using the biggest ship in the world at the time, The Great Eastern, the only ship capable of holding the entire cable needed to make the distance across the Atlantic, the 3rd and 4th attempts were made in 1865 and successfully in 1866. The eyes of the world were on Valentia.

"This cable made news all over the world. In Butte, Montana, there's a ski run called the Atlantic cable. It's called after a gold strike in that area in 1865. The real cable was only just functioning, but in the middle of the Rocky Mountains in Montana, they called a gold strike after the achievement."

Des Lavelle - Islander

What gives this tale yet another fascinating side is the story of an island divided by the cable station. The telegraphers who came to man the station came from England and throughout the British Isles, and created for themselves a little bit of England on Valentia, centred around the station and the main Village, Knightstown. And the life they lived is still evident today in the wonderful houses constructed for their families, and the stories from the islanders about the difference in the social set-up between the original islanders and their new English neighbours.

The people in the cable station could communicate with the wide world outside, whereas, for one reason or another they could scarcely communicate with their neighbours on the other end of the island. So telegraph, yes, verbally, no.

This wonderful story of achievement and two worlds tells like a modern fairytale.

Valentia - Once upon a time...
Produced & Directed by:  Michael McCormack
Research : Muiris Ó Fiannachta