The Madeira River was a natural offshoot of the St Clare River. It formed the the west bank of Ballimanagh Island and the east bank of Madeira Island. Madeira Island was the location of a paper manufacturer, a rectifying distillery, and a brewery. Later a foundry was located on the site of the present Garda station. The channeled Madeira and Parkavera Rivers provided water power to all of these businesses.
Click on the images below from left to right to follow the course of the Madeira River as it flows from the St Clare River under Mill St, through the Garda car park, and back into the Eglinton Canal at Parkavera.
