Barroosky

Barroosky (also spelt as Barroskey or Barrooskey. Irish: Barr Rúscaígh, meaning "top of the undulation") is a Gaeltacht townland within the civil parish of Kilcommon in County Mayo, Ireland. It is located within the ecclesiastical parish of Kilcommon-Erris. Barroosky townland has an area of approximately 1923 acres.

Barroosky is also the name of the electoral division (ED) in which the townland lies. As of 2022, Barroosky ED had a population of 96 people.

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. In 1911, the population was recorded as 34.

In September 1922, during the Irish Civil War, the Battle of Glenamoy took place nearby.

Agriculture and geography
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.

Glenamoy bog
The Glenamoy bog complex, which spans parts of Barroosky, is a large site situated in the extreme north-west of Erris, County Mayo. 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.

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. A hunting lodge built by the McDonnell family and later owned by the Jameson family, now in ruins lies there.