Malcomson family

Pouldrew Mill, which is joined by a short canal to the River Suir, was managed by one of the younger sons, David Malcomson Jr. Driving between Clonmel and Pouldrew, David Malcomson Sr. and his eldest son, Joseph, used to notice the water of the River Clodiagh where they crossed the bridge at Portlaw, and the pre-existing mill there having been burned down, they took over the property on a 999-year lease.

During the 1832, David Malcomson became involved in another venture, which could well have been pondering when, a few years earlier, Shiel had found his eyes fixed on the river under his feet.

In 1835, David was the principal speaker at a meeting held in Carrick-on-Suir for promoting the River Suir Navigation Company which obtained Parliamentary sanction the following year.

Eventually they built and operated the largest fleet of iron steamers in the world between the mid-1850s and the late-1860s, including five trans-Atlantic passenger liners.

One of David's sons, John Malcomson, looked after this end of the business, living at Waterford in Adelphi Terrace.

Among these was a jute mill at Carrick which however did not last long, some of its machinery being sold to Denny Bros of Waterford to make bacon wrappers.

As an offshoot to this, they established the 'Neptune Ironworks', which produced cast iron furniture decorated with metal ferns, and ivy and oak leaves.