elphin local area plan 2009 - 2015 - Roscommon County Council

Chapter 8: Recreation, Leisure and Tourism
• supporting the local economy and employing local people;
• caring about quality;
• bringing conservation and recreation benefits; and,
• developing at a pace and scale which ensures that the assets of the area, both natural and cultural,
are not diminished in the long term.
Nationally there has been a general increase in leisure time and expenditure in leisure, recreational and
tourism-related activities. This has been accompanied by increased participation in a wider range of sport
and leisure activities. County Roscommon possesses extensive natural resources and an environment of
nationally significant scenic value. This, combined with its attractive towns and vibrant cultural heritage,
provides a major opportunity for the development of tourism.
Tourism in Roscommon tends to be a relatively underdeveloped resource and relies heavily on natural
resource based tourism, especially waterways and their inland location. Tourism is small-scale and based
on limited and special interest markets mainly inland cruising, angling and walking.
Elphin is steeped in heritage, but lack of linkages to recognised national touring routes diminishes
visitor numbers. It is considered that the development and implementation of strategies aimed at
contributing to the promotion and facilitation of tourism is one way of projecting an image of a
place and attracting further inward investment. The Council will seek to facilitate the development
of tourist resources where appropriate, in partnership with other public sector agencies and the
private sector.
Elphin Windmill is the main tourist attraction in the town. There is also a craft shop on site. It is
the oldest windmill in Ireland dating back to the 1700’s and is one of only four in the country.
Originally used for grinding corn by the local landlord, it was restored by the Elphin Community
Enterprise to full working order.
As outlined above the development of a walking amenity would help forge links with the wider
range of activities in the general area including the Sliabh Ban Eco-Tourism Project. Elphin is
also a short distance from the River Shannon with its boating and angling facilities. The
development of this area would provide a managed recreation resource for the local community as
well as contributing to the growth of the local tourism sector. Fishing is a major attraction in the
area.
The Planning Authority would encourage proposals to develop the old cathedral site located to the
east of the town. Both Oliver Goldsmith’s and Percy French’s families are buried within the
curtilage of this site. A prehistoric standing stone or ‘obelisk’ and St Patrick’s well are both
located within the Fair Green, which forms part of the entrance into the cathedral site.
Improvements at both locations would greatly add to the historic image of Elphin as being an
ecclesiastical seat.
The monument at Shankill Cross, which is located adjacent to the N61, attracts a considerable
amount of tourists into Elphin. The monument is listed as being of regional importance in the
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH). It was erected in 1963 and is a
commemorative military memorial comprising of a sculptural group of three, over-life size
figures.
The Plan encourages the further provision of amenities such as the County Fleadh and other
tourist attracting events in order to market Elphin as a tourist destination.
If Elphin is to develop as a tourist centre it would require additional restaurants and possibly a
hostel or hotel. This plan also encourages the development of tourist attractions/tourist catering
enterprises into the town of Elphin.
Elphin Local Area Plan 2009-2015 Page 76