Roosky
Encyclopedia
Roosky or Rooskey is a village on the River Shannon
in County Roscommon
, Ireland
in the northern midlands of Ireland, near the point where counties Leitrim
, Longford
, and Roscommon
meet. The N4 road
from Dublin to Sligo
passes by the Leitrim side of the village.
There was also a 'Pleasure House' on the shores of the same lake. This included a man-made beach, and was only accessible to people from the Anglo-Irish
Protestant class. This was later burned down. The Protestant church, in the centre of the village, was also attacked at this time .
The village 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 National Farmers Association strike in 1967.
St. Patrick is thought to have visited the area between 438 and 440.
There are six pubs in business in Roosky; on the Roscommon side: Rí Seisiúin, Cox's Bar, Kon Tiki, and on the Leitrim side: The Weir Lodge, Reynolds', and The Rooskey Inn.
and the nearby loughs are well stocked with coarse fish including roach
, perch
and bream. The harbour and marina are especially busy in the summer, with cruise vessels regularly stopping by.
Outdoor activities enjoyed locally include watersports, horse-riding, pony-trekking and walking.
school, Our Lady of Mount Carmel N.S., which was opened in 1997.
Factory brought an end to bacon production, which had been the heartbeat of the village for over 50 years. Although the factory will not be rebuilt there is hope that the site itself will create much-needed jobs.
On The Leitrim side there is also a test tube making factory.
and soccer by Kilglass Gaels and Dynamo Rooskey, respectively. The village's GAA team was formerly known as Pat Molloy's during the 1910s to 1950s. This club then amalgamated with Slatta Parnellites, Tarmonbarry
and Kilmore to form St. Barry's Ruskey. The club won the Junior championship in 1969 when Anthony Mc Hugh led them to victory. The Kilglass Gaels Club was founded in 1983 and celebrated its silver anniversary in 2008. 2007 was a great year for the club, winning 7 county titles at various levels. The club has won championships at every grade, except senior, including the Intermediate Championship in 1999. In 2008 the club claimed the Junior "A" Championship after many years of competing at this level. The club also have recently won a senior ladies county title 2009.
Dynamo Rooskey F.C. was founded in 1978. The club was known previously as Rooskey Rangers. 'The Ger's' had a fierce rivalry with Longford Town F.C.
, before the latter was admitted to the League of Ireland
. Roosky clubs have historically punched above their weight. The club's finest hour came when they shocked the famed Drumcondra F.C. 3-1 in the 1958 FAI Cup
2nd Round. In the next round Rangers were soundly beaten 4-0 by Cork Hibernians at Quinn's Field. Other notable cup scalps include Portlaoise, Tullamore
Town and Castlebar Celtic
. In 1987 Dynamo lost the League on goal difference to Clones Town, after having what would've been a late winner ruled out for offside against Cavan Town on the final day. In 2000, Dynamo controversially lost 2 cup finals, to Longford Wanderers at Dalymount Park
and to Connolly Celtic.
Fallout from financial management difficulties caused the club to enter a period of examinership
in 2010 and was subject to a winding up order taken by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners
.
There are three 18-hole golf course
s in the area, including a Nick Faldo
-designed Championship Golf Course at Lough Rynn.
. It is also the birthplace of Michael Whelahan, who co-founded and captained Hibernian F.C.
in 1878.
River Shannon
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
in County Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
in the northern midlands of Ireland, near the point where counties Leitrim
County Leitrim
County Leitrim is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Leitrim. Leitrim County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Longford
County Longford
County Longford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Longford.Longford County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
meet. The N4 road
Roads in Ireland
The island of Ireland, comprising Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, has an extensive network of tens of thousands of kilometres of public roads, usually surfaced. These roads have been developed and modernised over centuries, from trackways suitable only for walkers and horses, to...
from Dublin to Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
passes by the Leitrim side of the village.
History
Roosky has had a colourful history. In 1798 the local rebels defeated the army of General Lake on the shores of Lough Bofin as part of the 1798 rebellion.There was also a 'Pleasure House' on the shores of the same lake. This included a man-made beach, and was only accessible to people from the Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish was a term used primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries to identify a privileged social class in Ireland, whose members were the descendants and successors of the Protestant Ascendancy, mostly belonging to the Church of Ireland, which was the established church of Ireland until...
Protestant class. This was later burned down. The Protestant church, in the centre of the village, was also attacked at this time .
The village was a lively market village in the mid 20th Century. The bridge was the scene of conflict during the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
in 1922 and was also an important focal point for the National Farmers Association strike in 1967.
St. Patrick is thought to have visited the area between 438 and 440.
Facilities
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Roman Catholic church, holds regular masses. The village also has a number of shops and public houses. A new community centre is currently located on the site of the old primary school.There are six pubs in business in Roosky; on the Roscommon side: Rí Seisiúin, Cox's Bar, Kon Tiki, and on the Leitrim side: The Weir Lodge, Reynolds', and The Rooskey Inn.
Culture
The Shannon Key West Hotel is an entertainment venue in the village. Every second year the village stages the annual "Spraoi Festival" regatta, usually during the August Bank Holiday weekend. In recent years the Lough Rynn Harvest Festival was also staged in the village.Tourism
Roosky is a well known tourist destination. It is a popular destination for anglers, as the River ShannonRiver Shannon
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
and the nearby loughs are well stocked with coarse fish including roach
Rutilus
Rutilus is a genus of fishes in the family Cyprinidae, commonly called roaches. Locally, the name "roach" without any further qualifiers is also used for particular species, particularly the Common Roach Rutilus (Latin for "shining, red, golden, auburn") is a genus of fishes in the family...
, perch
Perch
Perch is a common name for fish of the genus Perca, freshwater gamefish belonging to the family Percidae. The perch, of which there are three species in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of vertebrates: the Perciformes, from the Greek perke meaning spotted, and the...
and bream. The harbour and marina are especially busy in the summer, with cruise vessels regularly stopping by.
Outdoor activities enjoyed locally include watersports, horse-riding, pony-trekking and walking.
Education
The village is served by the local primaryPrimary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
school, Our Lady of Mount Carmel N.S., which was opened in 1997.
Industry
On May 8, 2002, a fire at the GlanbiaGlanbia
Glanbia plc is an international nutritional solutions and cheese group, headquartered in Ireland. Glanbia is listed on the Irish and London Stock Exchange . The Group has four segments; US Cheese & Global Nutritionals, Dairy Ireland, Joint Ventures & Associates and Other Business...
Factory brought an end to bacon production, which had been the heartbeat of the village for over 50 years. Although the factory will not be rebuilt there is hope that the site itself will create much-needed jobs.
On The Leitrim side there is also a test tube making factory.
Sport
Roosky is represented in both GAAGaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
and soccer by Kilglass Gaels and Dynamo Rooskey, respectively. The village's GAA team was formerly known as Pat Molloy's during the 1910s to 1950s. This club then amalgamated with Slatta Parnellites, Tarmonbarry
Tarmonbarry
Tarmonbarry, officially Termonbarry , is a village in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is located where the N5 National primary route crosses the River Shannon. East of the bridge part of the village lies in County Longford. The 2002 Census stated that the village had less than 100 people. The 2006...
and Kilmore to form St. Barry's Ruskey. The club won the Junior championship in 1969 when Anthony Mc Hugh led them to victory. The Kilglass Gaels Club was founded in 1983 and celebrated its silver anniversary in 2008. 2007 was a great year for the club, winning 7 county titles at various levels. The club has won championships at every grade, except senior, including the Intermediate Championship in 1999. In 2008 the club claimed the Junior "A" Championship after many years of competing at this level. The club also have recently won a senior ladies county title 2009.
Dynamo Rooskey F.C. was founded in 1978. The club was known previously as Rooskey Rangers. 'The Ger's' had a fierce rivalry with Longford Town F.C.
Longford Town F.C.
Longford Town F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the League of Ireland First Division. The club, founded in 1924 and elected to the league in 1984, hails from Longford, County Longford and play their home matches at Flancare Park...
, before the latter was admitted to the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
. Roosky clubs have historically punched above their weight. The club's finest hour came when they shocked the famed Drumcondra F.C. 3-1 in the 1958 FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
2nd Round. In the next round Rangers were soundly beaten 4-0 by Cork Hibernians at Quinn's Field. Other notable cup scalps include Portlaoise, Tullamore
Tullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
Town and Castlebar Celtic
Castlebar Celtic
Castlebar Celtic is an amateur Irish football club based in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, Republic Of Ireland. The club was founded in 1924 and currently competes in the Newstalk A Championship, the third tier of football in Ireland. Their second team competes in the Mayo Super League while the Under 20s...
. In 1987 Dynamo lost the League on goal difference to Clones Town, after having what would've been a late winner ruled out for offside against Cavan Town on the final day. In 2000, Dynamo controversially lost 2 cup finals, to Longford Wanderers at Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...
and to Connolly Celtic.
Fallout from financial management difficulties caused the club to enter a period of examinership
Examinership
Examinership is a process in Irish law whereby the protection of the Court is obtained to assist the survival of a company. It allows a company to restructure with the approval of the High Court....
in 2010 and was subject to a winding up order taken by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Office of the Revenue Commissioners
The Office of the Revenue Commissioners , - now called simply Revenue - is the Irish Government agency responsible for customs, excise, taxation and related matters...
.
There are three 18-hole golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
s in the area, including a Nick Faldo
Nick Faldo
Sir Nicholas Alexander "Nick" Faldo, MBE is an English professional golfer on the European Tour who now mainly works as an on air golf analyst. Over his career, he has won six majors: three Open Championships and three Masters. He was ranked the World No...
-designed Championship Golf Course at Lough Rynn.
Notable residents
The village is noted for being the birthplace of the 8th Taoiseach Albert ReynoldsAlbert Reynolds
Albert Reynolds , served as Taoiseach of Ireland, serving one term in office from 1992 until 1994. He has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize...
. It is also the birthplace of Michael Whelahan, who co-founded and captained Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
in 1878.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland