Unique Places in County Roscommon

Elphin is a small market town in County Roscommon. It seems to punch a little above it's weight. It is still the name of a diocese, although you will be hard pressed to find a cathedral. It was founded by St Patrick himself - although nothing remains of that earlier construction. A new cathedral was built in Sligo that was consecrated in 1874. Elphin's post-Patrick cathedral fell into disuse and was finally demolished following a storm in 1962. some bits and pieces have veen restored of the ruins. Outside the gates stands a stone with a spring appearing from under it. I guess that it 'grade two' holy water. A plaque explains the connection to St patrick and something about the water only appearing at night.

The area is also famous for producing two famous sons. Oliver Goldsmith attened the 'Latin' school connected to the Cathedral, as did Oscar Wilde's daddy.

More spuriously, local legend has it that Ned Kelly (the australian / irish outlaw) has the gold from his ill-gotton gains buried in one of the foothills around here somewhere. This fanciful story seems to ignore the problem of quite how it could be transported 14,000 miles before it was hidden.