Both sides of the original transatlantic telegraph cable came together in Valentia this week, when representatives from Newfoundland and Labrador paid an official visit to Kerry, and to the Valentia Cable Station.

VISIT: At Valentia Island Cable Station on Valentia Island where representatives from Newfoundland and Labrador paid an official visit to Kerry and to the Valentia Cable Station. Included were: John Griffin (Tourism Officer KCC) Emer Connolly (Director National Monuments Service) Mary Rose Stafford (Valentia Cable Foundation) Michael Lyne (Chairman Valentia Island Development) Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae Gerry Osmond (Assistant Deputy Minister - Arts and Heritage of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador) Minister Tourism Culture Arts and Recreation Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Steve Crocker Cathaoirleach Kerry County Council Cllr John Francis Flynn Cllr Norma Moriarty Siobhan Griffin (SKDP) and Moira Murrell (Chief Executive KCC). Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

The purpose of the visit was the signing of an official Memorandum of Understanding between both communities, which committed Kerry County Council and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to a co-operative approach on their journey to seeking UNESCO Heritage Status for the Cable Stations of Valentia and Heart’s Content, Newfoundland, the western terminus for the transatlantic cable.

Minister Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation Steve Crocker and Gerry Osmond, Assistant Deputy Minister - Arts and Heritage of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador travelled to Kerry for the visit and were welcomed to the Valentia Cable Station by Michael Lyne, Chairman, Valentia Island Development Company, Cathaoirleach Cllr John Francis Flynn and Moira Murrell, Chief Executive, Kerry County Council, as well as members of the Valentia Island Development Company.

Following a tour of the Cable Station Exhibition, a dinner, hosted by the Cathaoirleach, took place in the Royal Hotel.

The signing of the official Memorandum of Understanding between both parties commits Kerry and Newfoundland to a joint approach in seeking UNESCO Heritage Status, but also to a wider cultural and economic cooperation in support of community development.

“Our aim is to safeguard this global heritage for the posterity of mankind but our hope and expectation is that it will unlock other investment opportunities both private and State," Cllr John Francis Flynn speaking at the event said.

"We want to maximise the economic and social opportunities that this will provide for Valentia and South Kerry. I am sure the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will want to achieve similar goals for Hearts Content and its environs. I hope that this will the first of many official exchanges between Newfoundland and County Kerry, your community in Heart’s Content and ours in Valentia. I understand that a vital element of a joint or trans-national World Heritage application is a close working relationship between the two parties. You can be assured of our full commitment to the process and wider co-operation in other areas too - on the community, economic, tourism and social fronts.”