Striking and unmistakable in design, two delicate hands cradling a crowned heart, worn by thousands through the centuries, from great kings, queens and princesses to modern day lovers and dear friends, this timeless symbol of friendship, loyalty and love finds its roots in the heart of Ireland. History: Surprisingly, the origin of this cherished national symbol lay shrouded in mystery. But perhaps that is what draws so many to its simple beauty. The symbol of the Claddagh is said to be the symbol of the “Fisher Kings of Claddagh”, a small fishing village overlooking the Galway Bay in Ireland, and it carried the meaning “in love and friendship let us reign”. This original design was fashioned into Celtic wedding rings and bands in the 17th Century. Many stories and myths attempt to explain this ring’s beginnings, but one romantic legend seems to ring louder and truer than the rest. The Legend: It is the old story of Richard Joyce, a young man from the Galway village of Claddagh, Ireland. Just days before his wedding, Richard, on a trip to the West Indies, was kidnapped by Algerian pirates and sold, a slave, to a Moorish goldsmith.
Joyce longed for his native Ireland, and spent years pining for the woman he left behind in the city of Galway. Her name was Margaret, and she was his one true love. When King William III denounced slavery in the West Indies and ordered all citizens of the British Crown being held released, Joyce gained his freedom. The goldsmith did not wish to lose the master metal working skills of his Irish servant, and it is believed that he enticed Joyce to stay, with riches, and even with the offer of his own daughter’s hand in marriage. But Joyce could not be swayed. He blessed King William for granting him his freedom, and he soon sailed for Ireland, with a very special piece of Celtic wedding rings in his pocket. While Joyce had worked in the shop, he had found a way to illustrate his love for Margaret, without saying a word.
For many Irish who left Ireland during Great Famine of the 19th Century, the Claddagh was the only reminder left of their homeland. Rich in Meaning and Significance: But you don’t have to be Irish to appreciate the meaning and beauty of Celtic wedding bands. This traditional Irish wedding ring is now worn all over the world. It has become a fashionable exchange of dear friends and lovers, men and women alike. The meaning of the ring is what gives it significance. The hands, crown and heart symbolize the trinity of Love, Loyalty and Friendship, or in Gaelic, “Gra Dilseacht agus Cairdeas” (pronounced ‘Graw Deel-shocked, ogis Korr-diss’). Put another way: “Let love and friendship reign forever”. It is this rich and beautiful meaning that makes the Claddagh perfect for many occasions, whether it be a gift to a cherished friend of loved one, a Mother’s ring, a Promise ring or worn traditionally as an engagement or wedding ring. Wearing a Claddagh: The Claddagh ring is one of the most elegant and meaningful rings ever created and is beautiful no matter how it is worn. However, if the tradition of the Claddagh is followed, then the way in which the Claddagh is worn declares the wearers relationship status in their quest for love. If worn on the right hand, it is a sign of friendship: with the heart pointed out toward the fingertip, the wearer is free for the courting, their heart open and available; with the heart pointed in toward the wrist, the wearer is spoken for or being courted. But the left hand is the prized position for the Claddagh; worn with the heart facing in toward the wrist, the wearer has found their true love and is engaged or happily married, saying, “With these hands I give you my heart and I crown it with my love.”