Three miles from Macroom on the Road to Inchigeela, there is an area of former alluvial forest which was formed in the basin of the Lee at the end of the Ice age. This is called the Gearagh, an old Irish name for a wooded river.This site is located on the River Lee in County Cork, extending westwards and southwards from the Lee Bridge, which is about 1.5km south of Macroom. It extends for about 7km of river, to Dromcarra Bridge. The Gearagh occupies a wide, flat valley of the River Lee, on a bed of limestone overlain with sand and gravel. The adjacent valley walls are of Old Red Sandstone.
This unusual area has formed where the River Lee breaks into a complex network of channels (2 to 6m wide) weaving through a series of wooded islands. It is the only extensive remains of Alluvial Forest found in western Europe. It was described by a 17th historian as " an immense plain covered with trees and divided by the River Lee into 1,000 islands". It is a unique place of streams, narrow channels and small islands. Here are found some very rare plant and insect specimens which have been investigated and recorded by famous naturalists and scientists since the 19th century. There are 100's of species of flowers, plants and ferns. During the autumn and winter months migratory birds arrive in vast numbers and flocks of wild duck, snipe, woodcock, curlew, lapwing and swans can be seen on the islands. With foxes, stoats and otters in abundance the area is a treasure trove of wildlife.It is said that a thousand people could spend a week in the Gearagh without meeeting each other.

Sean Rua na Gaortha
The most famous inhabitant was a man named Sean Rua na Gaortha (Red Sean of the Gearagh) who "robbed the rich to help the poor" and whose daring exploits and miraculous escapes are part of the folklore of the area. However it is certain that he was hunted continually by the Militia, but always seemed to elude them in his home territory of the Gearagh, and by all accounts he lived to a great age and died in bed. In latter years the Gearagh has achieved a certain amount of fame as a source of poitin or Irish Mountain Dew. This is an illegal and highly potent alcoholic brew.

Nature Reserve
In 1987 the area was declared a statutory nature reserve with the co-operation of the E.S.B. who own the land. The water level in the Gearagh is controlled by the hydro-electric dam at Carrigadrohid. There are several well signposted walks through the Gearagh and it makes an ideal location for those seeking relaxation and peace. Despite the fact that about half the original area has been destroyed the Gearagh still represents the only extensive alluvial woodland in Ireland or Britain, or indeed Western Europe west of the Rhine. The international importance of the site is recognised by its designation both as a Ramsar site and as a Biogenetic Reserve. The reservoir is also a Wildfowl Sanctuary.