Elphin

Elphin is located 15 kilometres south of the town of Boyle and takes its name from the word "Ailfinn" meaning white stone. The white stone reffered to is a large obelisk which stood here and is recorded as having fallen down in 1675 AD. Oliver Goldsmith received his early education in Elphin diocesan school. Many claim that the scenes he described in the Deserted Village were those he saw as a boy around Elphin. Five kilometres from Elphin, Percy French, musician, composer and writer was born in 1854.