On 1 April 1990 a monument to McElwaine was erected in Corlat, County Monaghan. The oration was given by a Catholic priest, Father Piaras Ó Dúill, who compared McElwaine to Nelson Mandela, saying they both had the same attitude to oppression and both refused to denounce principle. The inscription on the monument is a quote from Patrick Pearse; ""As long as Ireland is unfree the only honourable attitude for Irishmen and Irishwomen is an attitude of revolt"". A monument to McElwaine and six other republicans was erected in Roslea in 1998, and unveiled by veteran republican Joe Cahill.