The Kerry Tourism Industry Federation has enthusiastically welcomed the announcement that Valentia Trans-Atlantic Cable Ensemble is to be included on the new Irish tentative list of world heritage properties to be progressed for World Heritage inscription.
Chairperson Pat O’Leary referenced the importance and recognition of the listing to both Valentia and the people of Kerry.
the Eight Wonder which is a new interactive installation that reveals the astounding story.
Pictures: Valerie O’Sullivan
“The hard work that has taken place over the last number of years by Kerry County Council, the Valentia Island Development Company and the community has finally come to fruition,” he said.
“The fact that this project made the following evaluation that was carried out independently speaks volumes and reiterates the value that it brings to Kerry. I wish to congratulate all involved and look forward to the progression of this initiative,” Mr O’Leary stated.
Over 150 years ago, Valentia Island was at the centre of a revolution that changed the world and the public can now discover w, at Valentia Cable Station.
Eighth Wonder is a new interactive installation that reveals the astounding story of the transatlantic cable laid between Valentia and Newfoundland.
The story was called the Eighth Wonder of the World and the wire that changed the world and it stretched 3,000 kilometres beneath the ocean and cut communication times between Europe and North America from weeks to minutes.
It was the beginning of global communications and behind it lies an astonishing story of human endurance, science, adventure, genius and the biggest ship in the world.
Valentia’s crucial role in transatlantic cable project – the technological equivalent at the time of putting a man on the moon – is told in this immersive visitor experience at the cable station.
Visitors can listen to entrepreneur Cyrus Field and the Knight of Kerry discuss their incredible adventure and learn how the transatlantic cable changed communications forever.
They can also send their own morse code message and try to break the code, discover the underwater cables of today and see how communications technology has changed.
Eighth Wonder reveals how Valentia played a crucial role in an astounding human achievement that still influences how people live today.
It was developed through Fáilte Ireland’s New Horizons on the Wild Atlantic Way grants scheme with €200,000 being provided to bring the transatlantic cable experience to life again.
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