Valentia Island marks milestone message between Queen and President

Major celebrations will take place in Valentia Island, Co Kerry today to mark the 160th anniversary of the first cable message sent across the Atlantic.

Queen Victoria sent the message to the president of the United States, James Buchanan, stating that the new technology would provide closer ties between the two nations.

The message read: “The Queen is convinced that the President will join with her in fervently hoping that the electric cable, which now connects Great Britain with the United States, will prove an additional link between the two places whose friendship is founded upon their common interests and reciprocal esteem.