Faith & Begorra is a local Irish Shop located about 40 minutes due West of NYC, on the main train and bus lines. Denville is a delightful town with varied independent local shops and restaurants; it is a pretty town with hanging flowers, flags, storefront flower boxes, benches and bike racks.
Faith & Begorra is in its 28th year of business. Owners, Dennis & Susan Banks started their shop after their 5th child received First Holy Communion. Dennis & Susan found it difficult to find religious items for the event and saw a need to provide them. To go along with that, adding beautiful gifts, clothing and jewelry from Ireland was a natural fit.
Through the years the business has grown to become the largest shop for First Holy Communion attire on the East Coast. Susan, has over 1,000 Communion dresses, veils, gifts, suits and more at every price point for every child. 11 designers provide dresses from under $80.00 to couture pricing. First Communion is a special time in a child’s religious growth and Faith & Begorra is very mindful that a child be prepared for this important sacrament.
The Irish part of the shop is filled with beautiful woolens and gifts from Ireland. Favorite brands include men’s wool hats and caps by Hanna Hats made in Donegal, Lee River Leather from Co Cork, Hanley & Hourihan Capes from Dublin, pattern from Nicholas Moss and Inis from Fragrances of Ireland.
Jewelry, hall marked in Ireland includes wedding bands, birthstone claddaghs, pendants, gold and silver from Shanore, Solvar, Boru and Anu. “Our selection is beautiful and we back our sales with little cards that explain the meaning of all the Irish symbols used in our jewelry,” explains Susan.
If you were to ask Dennis & Susan what is that one thing they have noticed about their shop, the answer would be – it is special in that men are as comfortable to shop in an Irish shop as much as women are. There is so much to offer men from Tweed jackets and vests, to Guinness clothing to fine leather belts and wallets. Topping off the men is a noggin warmer from Hanna Hats of Donegal, select from the hundreds on display. All are perfect for gift giving as well as for shopping for yourself.
For the ‘wee ones’ shop Faith & Begorra’s exclusive line of baby clothing, sweet grammie approved onesies, blankets, hats and outfits, all embroidered in-house with the finest Italian cotton. “Be sure to check the bums of the outfits for our extra shamrock, our mark of quality!” says Dennis. Available through to size 24 months. All items can be personalized, especially birth & baptismal blankets.
