Blackskull

{{short description|Village in County Down, Northern Ireland}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}

{{Infobox UK place

| official_name = Blackskull

| irish_name =

| scots_name =

| local_name =

| static_image = Letter box, Blackskull - geograph.org.uk - 2634093.jpg

| static_image_caption = Letter box on Blackskull Road

| map_type = Northern Ireland

| coordinates = {{coord|54.402865|-6.240470|display=inline,title}}

| belfast_distance = 22 miles

| population = 421

| population_ref = (2021 census)

| irish_grid_reference = J142519

| unitary_northern_ireland = Craigavon Borough

| country = Northern Ireland

| historic_county =

| post_town = DROMORE

| postcode_area = BT

| postcode_district = BT25

| dial_code = 028

| constituency_westminster = Upper Bann

| constituency_ni_assembly = Upper Bann

| lieutenancy_northern_ireland = County Down

| website =

| hide_services = yes

}}

Blackskull is a small village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies near Donaghcloney and Dromore. In the 2021 census it had a population of 421 people.{{cite web |title=Blackskull in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (Northern Ireland) |url=https://citypopulation.de/en/uk/northernireland/armagh_city_banbridge_an/N11000215__blackskull/ |website=citypopulation.de |access-date=6 July 2025}} It is within the Craigavon Borough Council area.

The village is named after an old inn called the Black Skull, which had a picture of a black man's head on its sign. A grisly local tale tells how a black man was beheaded and his skull mounted above the door of the Inn.[http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=11451 Placenames NI: Blackskull] Formerly, the area was known as Ballygunaghan ({{etymology|ga|Baile Uí Dhuinneagáin|O'Donegan's settlement}}),[http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=17379 Placenames NI: Ballygunaghan][http://www.logainm.ie/?text=blackskull&placeID=130045 Placenames Database of Ireland] after the townland in which it lies.