Our History

Established in 1974, Griffith College is Ireland's leading independent third level institution, with campuses in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. Over the past fifty years, Griffith College has established a national and international reputation for academic excellence and student success. Our graduates have gone on to successful careers in a wide variety of sectors, from accountancy, business and computing to music, fashion, design and law. Our four campus locations each have a unique history and atmosphere which contributes to a rounded and engaging educational experience.

The original Dublin campus buildings date back over 200 years to their construction in 1813. During the past two centuries they have regularly played a part in both local and national political events. Since its purchase by Griffith College in 1991, we have sought to combine the rich history of the buildings that surround us with the academic objectives of the College. The site has seen significant investment with student accommodation and a conference centre complementing the original buildings.

On June 1st 2005, Skerry's Cork Business School merged with Griffith College. Skerry's had been at the forefront of education in Cork since 1884, and has a long history of providing quality education in the city. As Griffith College Cork, its main five acre campus is located in the city's north side, a short walk from the main train station and shopping thoroughfares.

Griffith College Limerick is located on O’Connell Avenue in Limerick City. Originally established as the Mid West Business Institute in 1988 to deliver accountancy programmes, it quickly grew to include a wide range of disciplines and remains the only independent third level college to provide engineering courses.

Our other Dublin Campus, opened in 2018 in Dublin City Centre, Wolfe Tone Street. This marked a new expansion of Griffith College's footprint and our mission, with new types of course offerings bringing lifelong education to new audiences. 

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Griffith College

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Griffith College. From it's inception in 1974, providing training for students undertaking their accounting examinations, to Ireland's largest independent third-level institution providing a huge range of programmes in multiple disciplines, the past five decades have been a special journey for the institution.

Our staff and students, past and present, alongside our partners, have been central to this journey, and many of our activities celebrate their invaluable contributions.

To learn more about the upcoming events, visit our GC50 Page.
 

History of Griffith College Video

We were delighted to welcome historian John Dorney onto campus to record five historical snapshots. These snapshots look at the significance of how the buildings would have been used when they were: The Richmond Bridewell 1813-1892, Wellington Barracks 1892-1922, Griffith Barracks in the Irish Civil War 1922-23 and Griffith Barracks 1923-1991.