Ireland: Valentia – Knighttown & Valentia Royal Hotel

Another point of interest on Valentia Island is Knoghtstown. The town (or more of a village) was established in mid 1800s to support the Valentia Slate Quarry, which supplied high-quality slate globally, including for the construction of London’s Houses of Parliament. But what really put the town on the map was the Transatlantic Telegraph Cable that was laid from the Knightstown area to Newfoundland in Canada in 1866 – this cut communication times across the Atlantic from two weeks to two minutes, transforming this quiet Kerry village into the nerve center of global telecommunications for the next century. A must see is the Town Clock Tower right on the pier and next to it is the beautiful historic Royal Valentia Hotel, dating back to 1833 and you can stay here – a truly amazing property – and enjoy the sunset while sipping on the Valentia Island vermouth!