As this is in the Gaeltacht, the Irish Barr Rúscaígh is the only official name. The anglicized spelling Barroosky has no official status.
Barroosky (also spelt as Barroskey or Barrooskey. Irish: Barr Rúscaígh, meaning "top of the undulation")[1] is a Gaeltachttownland within the civil parish of Kilcommon in County Mayo, Ireland.[2] It is located within the ecclesiastical parish of Kilcommon-Erris.[3] Barroosky townland has an area of approximately 1,923 acres (7.8 km2).[2]
Barroosky is also the name of the electoral division (ED) in which the townland lies.[2] As of 2022, Barroosky ED had a population of 96 people.[4]
History
In Irish folklore, Barroosky is mentioned in the epic tale of Táin Bó Flidhais. It also is mentioned in a popular Erris folktale called the Fool of Barr Rúscaígh as part of the year of the French celebrations.[5] In 1911, the population was recorded as 34.[6]
The area in which the Barroosky lies on is mostly covered in peaty, blanket bog which covers much of the North Mayo coastlines of Kilcommon and the Barony of Erris.[8]
Glenamoy bog
The Glenamoy bog complex, which spans parts of Barroosky,[9] is a large site situated in the extreme north-west of Erris, County Mayo.[10] The area, which incorporates both inland and coastal regions, has a wet and oceanic climate and there are frequent strong winds across the largely treeless and relatively exposed area. The bog complex is drained by four main river systems - the Glenamoy, the Muingnabo, the Belderg and the Glenglassra rivers. Extreme oceanic blanket bog dominates the site in its inland areas.[8]
Sheskin forestry
Barroosky is situated near to the Sheskin Forest (not to be confused with Sheskin, County Monaghan) which stretches from near Ballycastle to Bellacorick. The forest is a large area of conifer forest plantation established on the bog lands of north Mayo.[11] A hunting lodge built by the McDonnell family and later owned by the Jameson family, now in ruins lies there.[12][13][14]