The Elephant's Graveyard

Cindy the elephant famously paraded through the town, before a circus performance in Castlerea in 1958. While out on her walk, Cindy wandered into Stephen Mannion’s pub on Main Street where local photographer Patsy Glynn Snr. captured the moment. The photograph appeared in many newspapers including Vintner’s magazine with the caption ‘customers come in all shapes and sizes.' When Cindy died in Athenry in 1972, there was much discussion as to where she would be buried. Castlerea Towns Trust offered a site in the Demesne and Cindy was buried there. In 2014 locals came together to mark this significant grave. Visitors can now visit Cindy’s grave and read her epitaph while picnicking under the dappled light of the evergreens.