Elphin’s story
Elphin: 3 buildings on the National Inventory
The record adds 9 archaeological sites.
Homes built before 1919: 11%, against 3% across Irish towns.
- 1860Bank of Ireland
- 1865Archbold House
- 1890Saint Patrick's Catholic Church
ElphinCo. Roscommon
Between 2016 and 2022, its population grew by 17%. In Co. Roscommon, this town has 715 residents.
Population
715
CSO, Census 2022 · Roscommon County Council
Median age
40.4
17% are 65+ · Co. Roscommon 14%
Degree level
22%
of residents 15+ · Irish towns 36%
Walk, cycle, transit
7%
of working residents · Irish towns 23%
Is Elphin a good place to live?
Buying the median home, at €135,200, takes 3.6 times the town’s median household income. The car is not the only way to work here: 7% of commuters walk, cycle or use public transport. The median sale price, 2023 to 2025: €144,400. Median gross household income: €37,720 a year.
Grades start at 1,000 residents for Irish towns, so Elphin has none.
What makes Elphin stand out
The 3 things Elphin does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
7% walk, cycle or ride
Against 23% in the median of Irish towns
CSO, Census 2022
Median sale price
Housing
61% below the median of Irish towns, €372,600
Property Price Register, 2023 to 2025.
Median gross household income
Income
Gross, a year (the median of Irish towns: €57,760)
CSO household income for the electoral division.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Elphin.
Schools
Most post-primaries around Elphin take girls and boys: 0% are single-sex, below Irish towns
Half of the schools are in the DEIS scheme, above Irish towns (35%). 2 schools lie within 3 km of Elphin: 1 primary school and 1 secondary school. The nearest secondary, Elphin Community College, is 0.7 km away.
2schools within 3 km
| School | Level | Pupils | Ethos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbeycarton N.S. DEISLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 138 | Catholic |
| Elphin Community CollegeLargest post-primary schoolPost-primary · ETB | Post-primary · ETB | 206 | Multi-denominational |
Schools by ethos · Schools within 3 km
Catholic1
Multi-denominational1
| Schools within 3 km | Elphin | Co. Roscommon | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-sex secondaries | 0% | – | 39% |
| Teach through Irish | 0% | – | 8% |
| In the DEIS scheme | 50% | – | 35% |
| Pupils since 2019/20 | +8% | – | +4% |
344
pupils at schools within 3 km, 2025/26
+8%
pupils since 2019/20 · Irish towns +4%
0.4 km
to the nearest primary school
0.7 km
to the nearest secondary school
Department of Education school lists, 2025/26 (preliminary) · no results are published by school · No letters, no results: Irish schools aren’t ranked one by one.
Natural hazards
In Elphin, radon is the measure to watch: about 13% of homes are estimated over the reference level
100% of its homes sit in high-radon areas, higher than Irish towns (0%). The ground under Elphin carries no high landslide susceptibility. Next to none of its homes lie low beside a river or the sea.
100%of homes in high-radon areas
Homes exposed · share of the town’s homes
In high-radon areas100%
On high landslide susceptibility0%
| Share of homes | Elphin | Co. Roscommon | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| In high-radon areas | 100% | – | 0% |
| On high landslide susceptibility | 0% | – | 0% |
13%
of homes over the radon level
499
homes mapped for these shares
EPA radon map, GSI landslide susceptibility and our low-lying homes estimate from OPW LiDAR.
Climate
Summers stay cool in Elphin: July afternoons reach 19.2°C, below Irish towns
Taken over the whole year, the average temperature in Elphin is 9.6°C. A January night in Elphin drops to 1.9°C on average, below Irish towns (2.9°C). A year brings 1,139 mm of rain to Elphin.
19.2°CJuly afternoon high
Average afternoon highs by season · 1991–2020 averages
Winter8.1°C
Spring13.0°C
Summer18.7°C
Autumn13.5°C
| Climate, 1991–2020 | Elphin | Co. Roscommon | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 19.2°C | – | 19.9°C |
| Average temperature over the year | 9.6°C | – | 10.3°C |
| January low | 1.9°C | – | 2.9°C |
| Rain a year | 1,139 mm | – | 937 mm |
19.2°C
July high
1.9°C
January low
1,139 mm
Rain a year
125 mm
Wettest month
52
Air frosts
Met Éireann, 1991–2020 averages.
Health
For its ages, more people in Elphin live with a disability than in Irish towns: 123 per 100 expected
At the census, 2.9% of residents said their health was bad or very bad, above Irish towns (2%). Ages taken into account, Elphin counts 150 people in poor health for every 100 predicted. 34% of people in the HSE West and North West health region hold a medical card. Asked at the census, 82% of residents of Elphin said they were in good or very good health.
82%good or very good health
Per 100 expected at the town’s ages · age-standardised
Bad health150
Disability123
Expected100
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 82%Fair 15%Bad or very bad 3%
| Census 2022 | Elphin | Co. Roscommon | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 82% | – | 88% |
| With a disability | 27% | – | 22% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2.9% | – | 2% |
| Unpaid carers | 4.6% | – | 5.4% |
150
bad health per 100 expected · Co. Roscommon –
123
disability per 100 expected · Co. Roscommon –
84.5 · 79.7
life expectancy, women · men, the West region, 2016
34%
hold a medical card, HSE West and North West
CSO, Census 2022 general health, disability and carers · CSO life expectancy by region, 2016 · HSE medical cards, 2024 · TownRatings age-standardised ratios
Housing
Fewer households own their home in Elphin than in Irish towns: 56%
Just over a quarter of households are private tenants. Social renters account for 16% of households.
€135Kmedian sale price
Median sale price · Property Price Register, 2023–2025
Elphin€135K
Irish towns€350K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Second-hand homes | €135,500 | 65 |
| Housing | Elphin | Co. Roscommon | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | €135K | – | €350K |
| Households owning their home | 56% | – | 61% |
| Households renting privately | 26% | – | 22% |
| Households in social housing | 16% | – | 13% |
56%
own their home · Irish towns 61%
26%
rent privately · Irish towns 22%
€1,092
a month on new tenancies, County Roscommon
Property Price Register · CSO residential prices by Eircode area · RTB rents · CSO, Census 2022 tenure
Outdoors
Elphin has fewer homes a short walk from green space than Irish towns: 70%
Within 1 km, 0.8% of the land is woodland, lower than Irish towns (2.7%). Protected sites cover 0.2% of the land within 5 km, lower than Irish towns (1.8%).
70%of homes near green space
Green space per 1,000 residents · per 1,000 residents
Elphin2.8 ha
Irish towns4.1 ha
| Outdoors | Elphin | Co. Roscommon | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near a park | 70% | – | 92% |
| Paths per km² of town | 0.0 km per km² | – | 2.1 km per km² |
| Woodland within 1 km | 0.8% | – | 2.7% |
| Protected nature within 5 km | 0.2% | – | 1.8% |
70%
Near a park
2.8 ha
Green space
0 km
Footpaths
0.2%
Protected for nature
OpenStreetMap parks and paths, NPWS protected sites and the National Trails Register.
Weather
Forecast for Elphin: light showers today and highs near 10 degrees
The coming days top out somewhere between 7°C and 10°C; Friday looks warmest. Usually, November days warm to 10°C and nights cool to 4°C; Elphin’s forecast is read against that. There may be a drop or two today, little to measure, with wind freshening to 22 km/h and a low of 7°C.
10°C / 7°CToday
This month and the next three, normal highs · 1991–2020 averages
November10°C
December8°C
January8°C
February9°C
| Season | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 8°C | 2°C | 333 mm |
| Spring | 13°C | 5°C | 236 mm |
| Summer | 19°C | 11°C | 258 mm |
| Autumn | 13°C | 6°C | 312 mm |
10°C / 7°C
Today
1.0 mm
Rain, next 24 hours
16 km/h
Wind
95%
Humidity
9 h 14 min
Daylight
Forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · normals: Met Éireann, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Only 6.9% of commuters in Elphin go to work without a car, fewer than in Irish towns
The car took 84% of commuters, above Irish towns (66%). Working from home was the norm for nearly one in ten workers at the census. 15% of people in the labour force have no job.
7%walk, cycle or take transit
How working residents got to work · census 2022
Car or van84%
Walk5%
Bus1%
Train, DART or Luas1%
| Census 2022 | Elphin | Co. Roscommon | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 15% | – | 9.2% |
| Median household income | €37,720 | – | €57,760 |
| In work, 15 to 64 | 62% | – | 68% |
| Trips under 15 minutes | 39% | – | 31% |
€37,720
household income, 2022 estimate · Co. Roscommon €51,009
8%
worked mainly from home, 2022
9%
trips of an hour or more
1,855
on the Live Register, County Roscommon, September 2026
CSO, Census 2022 travel to work, work and education · CSO Geographical Profiles of Income 2022 · Live Register · Census day was 3 April 2022, with working from home still common; shares are of those who travelled.
Who lives here
Fewer people in Elphin hold a degree than in Irish towns: 22%
Daily Irish speakers outside school: 1.6%, above Irish towns (1.1%). Young adults of 15 to 24 are 9% of the population. Those 65 and older account for 17% of residents.
40.4median age
ElphinCo. RoscommonIreland
Ages · share of residents
17%
Highest education · residents 15 and older who have finished education
Primary or none11%
Lower secondary19%
Leaving Cert43%
Diploma or cert5%
Degree or higher22%
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 50.3% of Elphin
360 women and 355 men live here; across Ireland, women are 50.6%.
| Elphin | Co. Roscommon | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 22% | – | 20% |
| 15–24 | 9% | – | 12% |
| 25–44 | 25% | – | 29% |
| 45–64 | 28% | – | 24% |
| 65+ | 17% | – | 14% |
| Primary or none | 11% | – | 9.7% |
| Lower secondary | 19% | – | 14% |
| Leaving Cert | 43% | – | 35% |
| Diploma or cert | 5.3% | – | 5.8% |
| Degree or higher | 22% | – | 36% |
CSO, Census 2022 · Co. Roscommon and Ireland: the median of their towns of 2,500+
Town hall
More people in Elphin vote than in Irish towns: 60% turnout at the local elections
No party holds a majority on Roscommon County Council: Independent lead with 7 of 18 seats, short of the 10 needed. 66% voted at the general election. One council serves Elphin: Roscommon County Council.
7/18seats held by Independent
Seats on Roscommon County · June 2024
Independent7
Fianna Fáil5
Fine Gael4
Sinn Féin1
Independent Ireland1
| Turnout | Elphin | Co. Roscommon | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local elections, June 2024 | 60% | – | 46% |
| General election, November 2024 | 66% | – | 59% |
6
Councillors
7/18
Independent seats on Roscommon County, the largest party
60%
turnout, June 2024
3
TDs elected for Roscommon-Galway
Department of Housing count sheets, 2024
History
Elphin keeps more of its old housing than Irish towns: 11.3% built before 1919
Scaled to its population, Elphin has 42 inventory buildings per 10,000 people, below Irish towns (48). 9 archaeological sites are on the record, lower than Irish towns (11). Surveyors for the national inventory recorded 3 buildings in Elphin, each of regional importance.
3inventory buildings
Buildings by NIAH rating · NIAH
International0
National0
Regional3
Among them
- Bank of Ireland 1860
- Archbold House 1865
- Saint Patrick's Catholic Church 1890
1860
earliest dated inventory building
11%
homes built before 1919 · Irish towns 3%
1
places pictured on the history page
| Heritage | Elphin | Co. Roscommon | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1919 | 11.3% | – | 3.4% |
| Inventory buildings per 10,000 residents | 42 | – | 48 |
NIAH, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage · Sites and Monuments Record · CSO, Census 2022 homes by year built
Nearby attractions
All attractions →St Mary's Cathedral, Elphin and 13 more within 40 km
2 places to visit are mapped within 5 km of Elphin; with them, the best known within 40 km.
CathedralCathedralSt Mary's Cathedral, Elphin200 m outside town, to the northwest
Abbey or priory · Office of Public WorksBoyle Abbey16 km northwest
MuseumThe National Famine Museum | Strokestown Park9.7 km southeast
CathedralSt. Mel's Cathedral29 km southeast
Historic houseStrokestown Park9.4 km southeast
CastleBallinafad Castle22 km northwest
Abbey or priory · Office of Public WorksBoyle Abbey16 km northwestMuseumThe National Famine Museum | Strokestown Park9.7 km southeastCathedralSt. Mel's Cathedral29 km southeastHistoric houseStrokestown Park9.4 km southeastCastleBallinafad Castle22 km northwestPlaces: Fáilte Ireland open data (CC BY 4.0) · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (5)
- Boyle Abbey: Digital Eye, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- The National Famine Museum | Strokestown Park: Winnie45, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- St. Mel's Cathedral: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Strokestown Park: Irish Defence Forces, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ballinafad Castle: Daniel Waters, Co. Sligo, Ireland from Ireland, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Elphin
15pages on Elphin
The big questions
Out and about
Landmarks
Surveyors for the national inventory recorded 3 buildings in Elphin, each of regional importance. Archaeologists have recorded 9 sites here.
Famous people from Elphin
4 notable people were born in Elphin.
Elphin’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Boundaries: Tailte Éireann, CSO Urban Areas 2022 and Electoral Divisions.
Carrick-On-ShannonBoyleElphin
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elphin | 715 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Carrick-On-Shannon Leitrim | 4,743 | 13 | B− | B+ | C− | B− |
| Boyle | 2,915 | 16 | B+ | A+ | B | B− |
People: CSO, Census 2022. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Elphin
Is Elphin growing?
Elphin had 715 people at the 2022 census, up from 612 in 2016: 16.8% more, against 7.6% in the median of Irish towns.
How do people in Elphin get to work?
8% mostly work from home, and 39% of journeys take under 15 minutes.
How old are the people of Elphin?
The median age in Elphin is 40.4, against 37.6 in the median of Irish towns.
About Elphin
Urban area in Co. Roscommon
715 people live in Elphin, in the area of Roscommon County Council. TownRatings uses the CSO’s 2022 Urban Areas as Ireland’s towns: the physical town, as people mean the word, rather than a county or a council area, so its figures cover the town itself.
Built from Tailte Éireann’s boundaries and the CSO’s Census 2022 (CC BY 4.0)
- Population
- 715 (CSO, Census 2022)
- County
- Roscommon
- Council
- Roscommon County Council
- Local electoral area
- Boyle
- Dáil constituency
- Roscommon-Galway
- Name in Irish
- Ail Finn
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²)
- CSO code
- UA:30248
Sources: CSO, Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics (CC BY 4.0) · Tailte Éireann, Urban Areas and Electoral Divisions 2022 (CC BY 4.0). Under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).
Contains Central Statistics Office (CSO) data, Census 2022, and Tailte Éireann boundaries (CSO Urban Areas, Small Areas, local electoral areas, constituencies), under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).