One letter was enough so that Marconi, Nobel prize of physics, started in 1901 a new technology of communication, the "wireless telegraph".
From Poldhu, the west point of United Kingdom, the waves of the letter "S", sent in morse " · · · ", sailed beyond the Atlantic to St John, Newfoundland.
The radio transmission was born.

While Valentia Island already benefit from the first transatlantic telegraph cable since 1857, it has been chosen again to contribute in transmitting the communication between America and the Old continent.
In 1906, Marconi decided to transfer the radio station he created in Crookhaven in 1902, to Valentia, the most western inhabited island of Europe.
It then became one of the first radio stations of Europe, before France in 1922 or Switzerland in 1939.

Today, Ireland has three coast guard radio stations, Dublin (east), Malin Head (west) and Valentia, which transmits at 1746 kHz and receives at 2090 kHz on a radius of 200 miles off the west coast.
Leaning against the Geokaun mountain, sheltered from the wind, the Valentia Coast Guard radio (EJK) has its windows facing the Atlantic.
The present station were built and manned by the British Navy in 1914, until handed over the new irish government in 1921.
The station communicates by morse until 1999, then by phone.

Round-the-clock working, Timothy Lyne and his 13 colleagues look out for each boat, the 28 ears on the alert.
They are the watchers of the Atlantic Ocean, and in all simplicity, take part each day in saving lives.
During 2002, more than 602 interventions made and 2078 persons assisted.
For each distress call, they organize the rescue by boat or helicopter depending the case.
But the team also broadcasts a twice-daily weather forecast and ensures the diffusion of commercial trades.
If communication by satellite relieved them today of some responsibilities, they keep being the sailors' guardian angels of the west.

Catherine Vadjic
Photos : Alfonso Mejia