Essays and Such
Irish Cultural Society
of San Antonio Texas
Promoting Awareness of Irish Culture
Claddagh Ring
by Ann Kelley
Let love and friendship reign
The History of the Claddagh Ring
The Claddagh Ring is one of the most endearing symbols of
Irish culture and sentiment. This unique and wonderful
ring derives its name from the Town of Claddagh, a small
fishing community in Galway located just outside the city
walls in which it is traditionally said to have originated
about 400 years ago.
Claddagh was a town devoted strictly to fishing. In
fact, it is said that it was so strictly devoted to fishing
that the people were forbidden to use a hoe or any other
form of farming equipment. The presence of a Claddagh Ring
on the fingers of drowned sailors was an indication of
their place of origin. Trading for their needs was a
necessity, however, and the spread of these rings was a result.
The designer of the Claddagh Ring is thought
to be Richard Joyce, a native of Galway. While being
transported as a slave to the plantations in the West
Indies, he was captured by Mediterranean pirates and sold
to a Moorish goldsmith in Tunis, Algeria who trained him
in his craft. When William III came to the throne of England
in 1689, he concluded and agreement whereby all his subjects
held in captivity by the Moors were allowed to come home.
Joyce's Moorish master had become so attached to him that
he offered his most beautiful daughter to be Joyce's wife.
Joyce declined this generous offer and his Moorish master
released him and allowed him to return to his home in
Galway where he set up a small shop in the Claddagh and
began to make the ring that has helped to make this town
famous.
The Claddagh ring belongs to a class of rings called
"Fede" or faith rings and they date from the Roman times.
They are identified by having the bezel cut or cast as
two clasped hands for faith, trust, or plighted troth.
Claddagh Rings depict a heart topped with a crown, and
held by two hands; one on either side. The hands signify
friendship, the crown loyalty and fidelity, and the heart
love. The phrase that is usually associated with the ring
is "Let love and friendship reign."
The ring has become popular outside of Ireland
since the middle of the last century. Its spread beyond
Ireland was helped by the vast exodus to the west during
the Great Famine. These rings were brought from Ireland
and were kept as heirlooms which were passed from mother
to daughter. It was claimed to be the only ring made in
Ireland ever to be worn by Queen Victoria and later Queen
Alexandra and King Edward VII. These rings were made by
Dillons of Galway in 1750.
The Claddagh was frequently used as a marriage
ring. Today, the ring is worn extensively by both men and
women across Ireland. It is traditionally worn either on
the right hand with the heart turned outwards to show
that the wearer is unattached or with the heart turned
inwards to show he or she is "spoken for." If the wearer
is married, it is worn on the left hand, with the heart
turned inward.
The Claddagh grows more popular as time passes
because of its unique design, its peculiar history, its
sentimental appeal and its close association with the
ancient Claddagh of Galway.