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Renews–Cappahayden is a small fishing town on the southern shore of Newfoundland, 83 kilometres south of St. John’s. The town was incorporated in the mid-1960s by amalgamating the formerly independent villages of Renews and Cappahayden. Renews–Cappahayden had a population of 421 in the Canada 2006 Census.

Renews … an early fishing port. ….The closest harbour to the fishing grounds of the Grand Banks, Renews was one of the very first harbors in the North America to be frequented by Europeans. The French were certainly familiar with Renews harbour by 1504 and the Portuguese may have been here even earlier. As a well known fishing port , Renews was often visited by vessels making the transatlantic crossing in order to “refresh” (taking on drinking water) and obtain supplies. For example in 1536, at the end of his second voyage to the New World, explorer Jacques Cartier made this place the last stop before returning to France.

According to a popular local legend  the Mayflower landed at Renews in 1620, where it picked up water and supplies before sailing on to Plymouth Rock^[.

Renews was once an independent trading centre sending fish to ports all over the world using its own sailing fleet..It is the oldest European settled community in North America with records of habitation dating from 1503.

Cappahayden with it’s beautiful rugged coastline was once called Broad Cove, can date inhabitants located there in the late 18th century, its location was reported by William Vaughan as early as 1626 when it was noted on Captain John Mason’s map as Vaughan’s Cove. The name Cappahayden was given by Father John Walsh after his birthplace, Cappahayden, Kilkenny. The name Cappahayden was approved by the Newfoundland Nomenclature Board in 1913.

Dozens of ships have met their fate along this stretch of rocky coastline. Just south of Cappahayden is the site of the tragic sinking of the SS Florizel at Horn Head Point