elphin local area plan 2009 - 2015 - Roscommon County Council

Chapter 2: Context and Profile
The town has an important place in the ecclesiastical history of Connaught and has given its name to a
diocese. The first diocese of Elphin dates from 1240, where it remained until the Episcopal seat was
removed in 1961 and now rests in Sligo.
St Mary’s Cathedral
St Mary’s Cathedral and surrounding cemetery, built in c. 1200 is located at the eastern end of the town
and is situated adjacent to the Fair Green. It is separated from Main Street by a wall and is planted with
trees. Originally used as a Catholic Cathedral of the diocese for over seven hundred years, it later became
a place of Protestant worship during the reign of Henry V111. It remained so until 1961 when the
Episcopal Seat was transferred to Sligo. Following storm damage in 1960, the Cathedral was demolished
in 1964, and remained derelict until it was partially restored in 1982.
Oliver Goldsmith was born about a mile east of Elphin at Smith Hill House, once home of Rev. Oliver
Jones, and the poet’s grandfather. Percy French, world- renowned composer, entertainer and artist, and his
family attended Sunday services in Elphin Cathedral. Both the Goldsmith and the French families are
buried in the grounds of the Cathedral, which is now in ruins. There are ten protected monuments and
structures located within this old Cathedral site.
A pre-historic standing stone and St Patrick’s well are both situated within the Fair Green, which forms
part of the entrance into the Cathedral site.
Bishop Hodson’s Grammar School
It is said that Oliver Goldsmith, whose grandfather was the master of the Diocesan School, attended the
school until he was eleven years old. William Wilde, father of Oscar Wilde, and Percy French also
received their early education at the school. The old Diocesan School was replaced by the Grammar
School in 1869.
Bishop Hodson of Elphin (1667-1685) left provision in his will for the founding of Elphin Grammar
School, for the education of the poor of the town. It was a well known centre of learning and was unique
in being both co-educational and non-denominational. In 1881 a boarding house was built to the rear of
the school and pupils travelled from Cork, Kerry, Wexford, Dublin and the northern counties to attend the
school. All boarders were Protestant and the majority of local day pupils were Catholic. Successive
generations have received a high standard of academic education and several pupils went on to attain
scholarships to Trinity College. This building, located on Main Street, is now a proposed protected
structure and forms part of Elphin Community College.
Elphin Castle
The Protestant Bishop King built Elphin Castle c. 1617. It was a turreted edifice built from the original
stones of Teampall Phadráig and associated friary. The residence became known as ‘The Castle’. At
present all that remains of this castle tower is an earthen mound and some perimeter stones to the southeast
of Castle Street. The site is a Recorded Monument and is protected under Section 12 of the National
Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994. There is an impressive view from this elevated site.
Teampall Phadráig & Franciscan Friary House
These structures were once located to the north-east of Elphin, opposite the Castle site. No remains of this
site are evident today. From 1637 to 1829, no catholic place of worship was tolerated within the limits of
Elphin town. The Franciscan community moved their Friary House from the town to an “unknown”
neighbouring area. In 1894 St Patrick’s (St Asicus) Catholic Church was opened.
Elphin Local Area Plan 2009-2015 Page 8