McElhatton was born on 12 September 1963 in Terenure, a suburb in the south of Dublin. He began studying acting at Terenure College, a school known for its drama tradition, and afterward spent eight years in London where he graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1987. McElhatton returned to Ireland in the early nineties, where he began his acting career mainly in theatre and television.
McElhatton was born in Dublin's Terenure suburb on September 12, 1963. He initially studied acting at a college with a strong drama history, before moving to London for eight years, graduating from the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1987. Upon returning to Ireland in the early 1990s, he launched his acting career mainly through theatre and television productions.