A beautiful corner of Co Waterford

PORTLAW AND KILBUNNY CHURCH LOOP

PORTLAW, Co Waterford, which I mentioned in a previous walk, was a 19th century industrialised village, centred around a cotton mill established by the Malcomson family in 1825. Waterwheels were installed on the Clodagh River to provide motive power; the pits dug to contain them still remain.

The Malcomsons were Quakers; they improved the village, laying it out to a plan, and employing most of the inhabitants. The mill was converted to a spinning factory and, in 1932, to a tannery.