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Rivers Suir and Barrow, Ireland
The port of Waterford lies on the River Suir, close to its confluence with the Barrow, where it opens out into a sea lough leading to the Irish Sea at the Hook lighthouse. Waterford was the base for ferry services to Great Britain, primarily to Neyland on Milford Haven before being transferred to Rosslare to serve  Holyhead after the end of the paddle steamer era. These services were operated by the Great Western Railway, which had taken over the business of Ford & Jackson in 1872.

Local services in the Waterford area were developed by the Waterford Steamship Company from 1837, linking  New Ross on the Barrow and Duncannon on the sea lough with a morning service to Waterford, returning mid-afternoon.  The service was for both passengers and cargoes, including livestock.  Local excursion trips also became a feature.
The company was founded by the Malcolmson family who bcame major industrialists in the area, beginning with milling corn and then expanding into shipping, shipbuilding (the local Neptune Works) and railways. Their shipping company which operated services to Bristol, Liverpool and London and mainly using screw steamers from an early date, was taken over by the Clyde Shipping Company in 1912



Shamrock
Built in 1837 by Tod & McGregor at Glasgow
130.7 ft : 191 GRT
Built for the New Ross - Waterford service
Scrapped in 1868

Duncannon
Built in 1837 by W&J Laird at Birkenhead
109.8 ft : 139 GRT
Built for the Duncannon - Waterford service
Ran until 1861 



Maid of Erin
Built in 1839 by Tod & MacGregor at Glasgow for use at Cork
104.4 ft : 98 GRT
Sailed for the New Ross & Waterford Steam Investment Co from 1843-1848
Known as Repealer
Briefly ran in competition with Shamrock on the New Ross route in the mid 1840s
Owned and patronised by people (the Repealers) wishing to repeal the Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland


Nora Creina
Built in 1849 by Malcolmson Bros at Waterford
133 ft : 142 GRT
Built for Waterford Commercial Steam Navigation Co

Tintern 
Built in 1861 by Malcolmson Bros at Waterford
126.7 ft : 146 GRT
Engines : 45 in x 48 in
Built for for William Malcolmson
Used as relief vessel after the arrival of Vandeleur from the River Shannon
From 1880 Waterford Steam Ship Co
Scrapped in 1897

Rosa
Built in 1863 by Malcolmson Bros at Waterford
130.3 ft : 148 GRT
Engines : 45 in x 48 in
Built for William Malcolmson
From 1880 Waterford Steam Ship Co


Vandeleur
Built in 1866 by Malcolmson Bros at Waterford
146.6 ft : 197 GRT
Engine : Oscillating. Reengined to  32 and 32 in x 39 in by J Jack & Co of Liverpool
Built for William Malcolmson
In service on the River Shannon
From 1880 Waterford Steam Ship Co
Scrapped in 1907

Ida
Built in 1868 by Malcolmson Bros at Waterford
148.6 ft : 172 GRT
Engines : Oscillating 33 and 33 in x 39 in
Built for William Malcolmson as replacement for Shamrock
From 1880 Waterford Steam Ship Co
Withdrawn in 1905. Scrapped in 1909

Express
Built in 1871 by Malcolmson Bros at Waterford
89.5 ft : 71 GT
Engines :
Built for Malcolmson for passenger excursions
From 1877 the Waterford Steam Ship Co
Sold for use at Scarborough in 1882

Shannon
Built in 1892 by McIlwaine & McColl at Belfast
160 ft : 257 GRT
Engines ; Oscillating 21.5 and 45 in x 39 in
For Waterford Steam Ship Co
Sold for use at Limerick in 1912


Vessels for trade with Great Britain

Mermaid
Built in 1834 by R Russell & Sons at Birkenhead
149.3 ft :
Engines : by Fawcett, Preston & Co
Passenger/Cargo
For Waterford Steam Navigation Co
From 1840 the United Waterford SN Co

Waterford
Built in 1836
For Waterford Steam Navigation Co
New build for the Waterford Steamship Company

Troubadour
Built in 1841 by Th. Vernon & Sons at Liverpool
172.6 ft (later 208.6 ft)  : 616 GRT
Engine by G Forrester & Co
Bought by Malcolmson Bros in 1867 for cargo service ex- Wexford SS Co
Withdrawn 1870

Camilla
Built in 1844 by Samuda Bros at Poplar, London
174.5 ft : 458 GRT
Engines : Oscillating by Fawcett & Co
For Waterford Commercial Steam Navigation Co
Sold around 1870

Lion
Built in 1847 by Smith & Rodger at Govan
183.9 ft : 608 GRT  (later 217 ft : 639 GRT)
Built for Joseph Malcolmson
Operating at London from 1878 for the General Steam Navigation Co
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Historical Database