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Holyhead is the largest town in Isle of Anglesey, with a population of 1,237. In Welsh it is called Caergybi, which translates as "the fortification of St. Cybee". The city is located on the island of Holy Island, separated from Anglesey by a narrow strait. Holyhead in the UK is the link port to Dublin and Doon Laire. It is from here that ferries to Ireland depart.
During archaeological excavations a castrum, a Roman settlement measuring 75x45 m, was discovered. It was surrounded on three sides by stone walls and sheltered by the sea on the fourth. The exact name has been forgotten, but there is speculation that the settlement was an outpost of Segontia, built to protect against Irish brigands attacking from the sea. Around 393, the Romans abandoned the town.
In the sixth century, St. Kibi asked permission from King Guine da Milgun ap Cadwallon to establish a monastery on the fortified part of the city.
Permission was granted and the saint's wish was granted. As a sign of respect, he was buried in the monastery's Church of the Dead. Over time, the city expanded - new buildings sprang up around the Roman settlement. However, this did not save Holyhead from the raids of the Vikings, who regularly visited the kingdom of Gwynedd.
So it lasted until the XII century. But in 1283 Holyhead became English territory. Instead of the Welsh name, the Latinized form was used first, and from 1315 the English version was used.
The port of Holyhead replaced Liverpool in sending weekly mail until 1839. Ten years later it was entrusted again with postal traffic as the railroad connecting Chester and Holyhead was built. From May 1821 steamboats began to run to the suburbs of Dublin. The city's port was extensively rebuilt from about 1848 to 1873.
Currently, more than 2 million people pass through the port of Holyhead every day. Not only passenger ferries, but also cargo and cargo-passenger vessels depart from here.
