The Blazer Pub

The Blazer Pub takes its name from a term coined in western Ireland in the late 1800s by a group of enthusiastic foxhunters and their hounds. After a day’s work, these hunters would gather in a temporary hut or shack to celebrate their hard-earned bounty. When the merriment ended, they set fire to the hut and watched while it blazed and burned down, thus enjoying the glow of the Galway "Blazer." While the name has been around since the 1800s, the building was constructed in 1928, serving as a rest stop along Route 22. The owners sold hot dogs to weary travelers right out of the front window. By the early 1950’s, the rest area was fully converted into a restaurant and tavern. The Blazer Pub was first opened in 1971 by Tom and Emer Heavey. In April of 1988, Richard and Rita O’Leary purchased the business from the Heavey family.