The Griffin Arms Hotel

The Griffin Arms has four main areas:

• Food: An excellently equipped catering kitchen provides an extensive breakfast, lunch & bar menu and also caters for functions for up to 100 people.
• Lively and traditional public Bar
• Receptions catering for up to 100, full dinner menu or buffet style service.
• Accomodation: 10 quality guest bed rooms all with ensuite facilities.

A brief history…

In 1953 Mr William Griffin returned to Ireland from the U.K. Mr & Mrs Griffin bought a large private house on Upper Main St. Borrisokane from the Quigley family. They proceeded to turn this establishment into a small quality hotel. In those days Borrisokane was a small but thriving market town. Mr Griffin and his wife Annie had worked as Butler & Housekeeper for Lord Huntington in the south of England. They brought with them many of the traditions and a high standard of hospitality which was the norm in great English houses of the time. Afternoon tea was served in fine bone china and with silver service. The late Princess Margaret of the British royal family took afternoon tea in the Griffin Arms during a visit to Birr Castle.

The Griffin Arms catered to the local middle classes serving food and drink and catering for dinner dances which were very popular at the time. Many commercial travellers stayed on a regular basis as did visiting emigrants returning to the locality. Locals say that as children in the 50’s and 60’s it was a great treat to be brought to the Griffin for a mineral!

In subsequent years the Griffin Arms changed ownership several times. In the 1970’s it was a popular wedding venue and the tradition of live music was begun.” The Griffin” as it is now commonly known is presently run by the Peter and Helen Ryan and family as a family business.