In March of 1972, Gene Gillespie arrived in New York on vacation from Ireland to visit his brother. It didn’t take long for Gene to decide to remain in America and take a job with his brother tending bar at the local tavern. Only five years later the two were opening their very own neighborhood tavern, The Waterfall. Over the years Gene, along with his wife Rosemary and son Eugene, have owned and operated a variety of bars and restaurants throughout the NY/NJ area. Culminating in 2004 with the grand opening of the first Blackthorn Restaurant & Irish Pub in Kenilworth NJ. After 11 successful years in Kenilworth the Gillespie’s decided it was time to bring their wee bit of Ireland south, to Ocean County and in August of 2015 PJ Sweeney’s in Bricktown, New Jersey opened its doors. Conveniently located on Brick Boulevard in Brick, NJ, PJ Sweeney is Ocean County’s premier destination for authentic Irish Hospitality and Cuisine. The dining rooms feature warm inviting colors with tasteful décor reminiscent of the many quaint pubs found in Ireland. The dining rooms are set back from the bar area in order to provide a quieter dining experience for the Lunch and Dinner guests. Each of the 3 dining rooms can also be closed off to host private events of any size. PJ Sweeney’s menu features many of the classic Irish dishes such as Fish & Chips, Shepard’s Pie and Guinness Beef Stew. It doesn’t stop there though, from Bangers and Mash to Corned Beef and Cabbage, BBQ Baby Back Ribs to Grilled Atlantic Salmon, PJ Sweeney’s offers a little something for everyone. Perfect for a quick getaway on your lunch break or a casual dinner with friends & family, the PJ Sweeney’s Irish Pub strives to exceed the expectations of every guest.