View source for Roosky

{{Short description|Village in Leitrim and Roscommon, Ireland}}
{{distinguish|text={{lang|ru|Русский}}, demonym of the [[Russia|Russian Federation]]}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2009}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
|settlement_type        = Village
|name                   = Roosky
|native_name            = {{Irish place name|Rúscaigh}}
|native_name_lang       = ga
|image_skyline          = RooskyOldBuilding Feb 2003 169.jpg
|image_caption          = Roosky, on the River Shannon
|pushpin_map            = Ireland
|pushpin_label_position = right
|pushpin_map_caption    = Location in Ireland
|coordinates            = {{coord|53.8333|-7.9167|dim:100000_region:IE|display=inline,title}}
|blank_name_sec1        = Irish Grid Reference
|blank_info_sec1        = {{iem4ibx|N055870}}
|unit_pref              = Metric
|elevation_m            = 75
|subdivision_type       = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name       = [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
|subdivision_type1      = [[Provinces of Ireland|Province]]
|subdivision_name1      = [[Connacht]]
|subdivision_type2      = [[Counties of Ireland|County]]
|subdivision_name2      = [[County Roscommon]] and [[County Leitrim]]
|population_as_of       = [[2022 census of Ireland|2022]]
|population             = 787
|population_footnotes   = <ref name=cso2022>{{cite web | title = Census Mapping – Roosky | url = https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C04160V04929&guid=6bf72c5b-e346-4e5e-a27c-ea6d590dbe1d | work = [[2022 census of Ireland|Census 2022]] | publisher = [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office]] | access-date = 12 February 2024}}</ref>
|website                =
}}
'''Roosky''', '''Ruskey''', or '''Rooskey''' ({{Irish place name|Rúscaigh|[[swamp]]' or '[[bog]]}}) is a village on the [[River Shannon]] in the northern midlands of [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], near the point where counties [[County Leitrim|Leitrim]], [[County Longford|Longford]], and [[County Roscommon|Roscommon]] meet. The [[N4 road (Ireland)|N4 road]] from [[Dublin]] to [[Sligo]] passes by the Leitrim side of the village.

== History ==
In 1798 the local rebels defeated the army of [[Gerard Lake, 1st Viscount Lake|General Lake]] on the shores of [[Lough Bofin (River Shannon)|Lough Bofin]] as part of the 1798 rebellion. There was also a 'Pleasure House' on the shores of the same lake, including a man-made beach only accessible to people from the [[Anglo-Irish people|Anglo-Irish]] [[Protestantism|Protestant]] class, which was later burned down. The Protestant church, in the centre of the village, was also attacked at this time.

Roosky was a lively market village in the mid-20th Century. The bridge was the scene of conflict during the [[Irish Civil War]] in 1922 and was also an important focal point for the [[Irish Farmers' Association|National Farmers Association]] strike in 1967.

The portion of the village in [[County Leitrim]] was formerly known as Georgia or Gorteenoran ({{langx|ga|Goirtín Óráin}})<ref>{{Cite web|title=Goirtín Óráin/Georgia or Gorteenoran|url=https://www.logainm.ie/en/30390?s=Georgia+or+Gorteenoran|access-date=2021-03-20|website=Logainm.ie|language=en}}</ref> and constituted 5 houses and three licensed premises in 1925. This name is not in use today.<ref>{{cite report
|title=Intoxicating Liquor Commission Report
|volume=Reports of Committees
|author=Irish Free State
|publisher=The Stationery Office
|year=1925
|url=http://dspace.gipe.ac.in/xmlui/handle/10973/25609
|access-date=21 May 2017
|page=31
|date=
|archive-date=15 December 2018
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215070011/https://dspace.gipe.ac.in/xmlui/handle/10973/25609
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

== Facilities ==
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Roman Catholic church built in 1844, holds regular masses. The village has a supermarket, a Chinese restaurant, a Garda Station and a number of pubs. The community centre is located on the site of the old primary school. 

== Culture ==
The Shannon Key West Hotel was an entertainment venue in the village, until it went into liquidation, closing its doors on 18 October 2011.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/shannon-key-west-owes-over-3m-as-liquidator-closes-down-business-26783734.html | title=Shannon Key West owes over €3m as liquidator closes down business | date=20 October 2011 | publisher=independent.ie | first=Donal | last=O'Donovan | access-date=26 January 2020 | archive-date=27 January 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127011246/https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/shannon-key-west-owes-over-3m-as-liquidator-closes-down-business-26783734.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Every year, the village holds the 'Rooskey Heritage Festival,' usually in July.
[[File:RooskyShannon Feb 2003 171.jpg|thumb|280px|left| River Shannon at Roosky]]

== Tourism ==
Roosky is a destination for anglers, as the [[River Shannon]] and the nearby [[loughs]] are well stocked with coarse fish including [[Rutilus|roach]], [[perch]] and [[bream]]. The [[harbour]] and marina are especially busy in the summer, with cruise vessels regularly stopping here.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

The [[Rooskey Heritage Festival]] is also held annually in the village. This community festival includes live music and heritage displays and promotes Rooskey village as a tourist destination. There are also art exhibitions, watersport displays and markets. Proceeds raised by the festival go towards the next year's festival and community projects which have included commissioning a wooden sculpture for the village, promoting the village's rich history by using plaques near points of interest and organising events all year celebrating heritage.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

Outdoor activities that take place locally include watersports, horse riding, pony-trekking and walking.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

== Education ==
The village is served by the local [[primary school]], Our Lady of Mount Carmel N.S., which was opened in 1997. An afterschool was built on the school grounds in the late 2010s and early 2020s at the back of the school.

== Industry ==
On 8 May 2002, a fire destroyed much of the premises of the [[Glanbia]] pork processing plant.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/fire-damages-glanbia-meat-plant-1.1056572|title=Fire damages Glanbia meat plant|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|date=9 May 2002|access-date=6 October 2021}}</ref> Furthermore, the following year it was announced that the plant would not be rebuilt.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2003/0625/39686-glanbia/|title=Glanbia not to rebuild Roosky plant|publisher=[[RTÉ News]]|date=25 June 2003|access-date=6 October 2021}}</ref> On the Leitrim side of the village, there is also a test tube making factory.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

==Rail access==
The nearest railway station is located on the County Leitrim side of the River Shannon at [[Dromod railway station|Dromod]] which is on the [[Dublin–Sligo railway line]].

== Sport ==
Roosky is represented in [[Gaelic Athletic Association|GAA]] and [[Association football|soccer]] by Kilglass Gaels and [[Dynamo Rooskey]], respectively.

There are three 18-hole [[golf course]]s in the area.

== People ==
* [[John Bannon (priest)|John Bannon]] (1829–1913), Jesuit priest
* [[Albert Reynolds]], politician and 9th [[Taoiseach|Taoiseach of Ireland]], born in Roosky.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/22/world/europe/albert-reynolds-ex-prime-minister-of-ireland-dies-at-81.html | title = Albert Reynolds Dies at 81; Peacemaking Irish Premier | last = Dalby | first = Douglas | date = 21 August 2014 | work = [[The New York Times]] | access-date = 1 May 2020 | archive-date = 11 February 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210211003150/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/22/world/europe/albert-reynolds-ex-prime-minister-of-ireland-dies-at-81.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
* [[John Waters (columnist)|John Waters]] (born 1955) columnist and author

== See also ==
* [[List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland|List of towns and villages in Ireland]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite web
|title=Roosky Townland, Co. Roscommon
|publisher=townlands.ie
|url=https://www.townlands.ie/roscommon/ballintober-north/termonbarry/roosky/roosky/
|access-date=21 May 2017
|archive-date=28 July 2018
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728221420/https://www.townlands.ie/roscommon/ballintober-north/termonbarry/roosky/roosky/
|url-status=live
}}
* {{cite web
|title=Georgia or Gorteenoran Townland, Co. Leitrim
|url=https://www.townlands.ie/leitrim/mohill/mohill/roosky/georgia-or-gorteenoran/
|publisher=townlands.ie
|access-date=21 May 2017
|archive-date=30 October 2020
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030085119/https://www.townlands.ie/leitrim/mohill/mohill/roosky/georgia-or-gorteenoran/
|url-status=live
}}
{{refend}}

{{County Roscommon}}
{{County Leitrim}}
{{River Shannon}}

[[Category:Towns and villages in County Roscommon]]
[[Category:Towns and villages in County Leitrim]]
[[Category:Populated places on the River Shannon]]