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Seven-minute read
SPRING LAKE -- Growing up in Galway on Ireland’s west coast and marrying in 1987, Moya and Aidan Rush loved Irish culture and were proud of their heritage.
And just over a decade ago, they channeled their passion for Ireland into their purchase of the Irish Centre, a renowned Spring Lake-based shop that’s been providing Celtic clothing, jewelry, gifts and “all things Irish” for nearly half a century.
“In the late 1980s there was a recession in Ireland, and Aidan and I decided to come to the U.S. for six months as an ‘adventure,’” recalled Moya, a Wall resident, of their relocation to the Jersey Shore area — a visit which turned into so much more.
“Aidan had friends and family here who offered him a job and I worked in New York City for the first few years, but in 1995 I started working at the Irish Centre, which my cousin Mary Reilly and her husband Jim had opened in 1978,” she said. “I became a store manager and a buyer, and when Mary decided to retire, Aidan and I bought the store from her in 2014.”
Still in its original location on Third Avenue, Rush said that Spring Lake’s historically large Irish population and renowned designation as the area’s “Irish Riviera” have contributed to the now 47-year-old store’s longevity and strong following.
“There are many generations of Irish families throughout Spring Lake, and they hold dear to their heritage,” Rush said. “So many people who have had their ancestry analyzed come to the store excited to share that they’re some percentage Irish.”
Tweeds, claddagh rings and more
Within their quaint 1,500-square-foot shop, which is open seven days a week, “we offer everything from Aran knitwear, tweeds, coats and men’s hats to traditional foods imported straight from Ireland, including blood puddings, breakfast bacon and sausage, fresh homemade brown bread, soups, jams, salty snacks and Irish-made Cadbury chocolate,” Rush said.
“We carry beautiful baby gifts and sweaters, Waterford crystal, Simon Pearce glass, Guinness merchandise and a broad range of jewelry featuring such key Irish themes as the trinity knot, Celtic cross, claddagh symbol (which represents friendship, love, and loyalty), and lucky shamrock," she continued. "We also carry religious items such as saint medals, pins and Celtic crosses in metal and even in mahogany as well as a large selection of cards, books and CDs.”
With over 9,000 products from more than 50 different vendors in the store, Rush said that there’s something for everyone and every budget at the Irish Centre.
“You can purchase a Celtic cross or pin for a jacket for as little as $6 or a silver claddagh ring for $75, all the way up to a claddagh ring with precious gems like diamonds, emeralds or sapphires for $5,000,” she said. “We offer items for all stages of life, from baby and confirmation gifts to engagement gifts, wedding bands and more.”
Ultimately, “we see ourselves as ambassadors of Ireland,” Rush said. “We love to promote Irish culture, music and food and we encourage people to visit Ireland and especially to explore the countryside and fun places off the beaten path. It’s great to get lost in Ireland and we encourage people to take a trip there and soak in the culture.”
Based on the Rushes’ commitment to authenticity, “over 85% of the merchandise we sell is from Ireland and we’re proud to source our T-shirts, wooden signs, art, wool clothing and more from some of the country’s best small crafters and artisans, including one of our most beloved vendors, a skilled 87-year-old knitter from Donegal,” she said. “I travel to Ireland several times a year to attend trade shows, participate in ‘meet the maker’ tours, and visit knitwear mills to stay on the forefront of what’s happening.”
That continued attention to new products and local vendors has long resonated with the Irish Centre’s clientele.
“We have a lot of repeat customers and feel lucky to have such a loyal clientele that we’ve built relationships with over the generations,” Rush said. “Spring Lake is a little mecca at the Jersey Shore and our store warms our customers’ hearts and brings them back to when they were growing up.”
Among trends, Rush said that the stiff and uncomfortable Irish knitwear of the past has gone by the wayside.
“There are no more itchy sweaters,” she confirmed. “These days, more and more products are made of merino wool that’s soft and light, and the basic Irish crewneck sweater has now become more chic with side zippers and different types of collars in a wide variety of colors.”
What hasn’t changed is the pride and quality with which products carried at the Irish Centre are made.
“Irish tweeds can last forever, and our manufacturers are committed to outstanding quality and workmanship,” Rush said.
Among challenges, Rush said that shipping costs have become challenging for the store, especially since so much of their inventory is imported.
“Most of our products are air-freighted in from Ireland and shipping costs have quadrupled since the pandemic, which has been difficult to manage,” she said.
“In addition, while it was easy to get merchandise during the pandemic when there was no tourism, tourism in Ireland has since exploded and it’s been hard for Irish suppliers to keep up with both their own domestic demand and demand from U.S. buyers like our store,” Rush said. “For that reason, we have to stock up early for the spike in business that we experience around Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day. There are 32 St. Patrick’s Day parades in New Jersey, so we try to buy as much merchandise as soon as we can for those events.”
Keeping the Irish heritage alive
Supported by their dedicated staff of four part-time associates, most of whom hail from Ireland, “I do all of the buying, ordering and pricing, while Aidan takes care of all of our back-office activities, store supplies and online presence,” Rush said. “Most of our customers live within 30 minutes of our store, but we ship to customers all over the U.S. through our e-commerce site.”
Looking ahead, the Rushes are excited to continue promoting all that makes the Emerald Isle so special.
“We run a Belleek-signing event at the store every November and host Christmastime appearances by jewelers who create new jewelry with Swarovski crystals for us each year,” Rush said. “We also co-chair Spring Lake’s Irish Festival every June and are excited to give back to the community and support the many great Irish organizations in the area.”
Among her favorite parts of running the Irish Centre, “we love our wonderful customers and the relationships we’ve built with them over the years, and it’s also exciting when children and teens come into the store to get their first claddagh ring, sweater or hat,” Rush said. “We love to see the generations continuing to keep their ancestry alive; they’re the future and we want them to embrace their heritage, appreciate where their ancestors came from, and fall in love with Ireland.”
As for the experience at the Irish Centre, where lively Celtic music is always on tap, “Ireland is a warm, welcoming culture and that’s the feel in this store,” Rush said. “We love celebrating all things Irish at the Jersey Shore.”
Irish Centre
Location: 1120 Third Avenue, Spring Lake
Phone: 732-449-6650
Owners: Moya and Aidan Rush
Opened: 1978
Website: irishcentre.net