Another story tells of a Margaret Joyce (no relation to Richard), who married a wealthy Spanish merchant by the name of Domingo de Rona. They married and Joyce set up a goldsmith shop from where the first Claddagh Rings, bearing his inscription RI (the initial letters of Richard), were produced.īut like many other elements of Irish culture and heritage, the precise source of the Claddagh Ring is in dispute. On returning to his native Claddagh, Richard gave a ring to his sweetheart. Won over by the young Irishman’s charm and craftsmanship, his Moorish master offered Joyce half his wealth and the hand of his only daughter in marriage. Joyce was sold to a Moorish goldsmith, who trained the young Irishman in the craft. On a ship bound for the West Indies plantations, Joyce and his fellow shipmates were captured by Algerian pirates and ferried to the African country. Its origins are most widely credited to the 17th century and to a young Irishman named Richard Joyce, a native of Claddagh, a tiny fishing village on the coast of Galway.
The Claddagh Ringis believed to date back centuries. The Claddagh Ring has become an expression of romance, kinship, identity and attachment. In this sense, it is a cultural icon, instantly recognizable as a item of jewelry worn by people with a sense of romance and a sense of Irishness. There are religious connotations: the heart representing God, the hands symbolic for Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost.įinally, the Claddagh Ring is also worn by people who simply wish to identify themselves with Irish culture. The Claddagh Ring is thought to have meanings other than romance. Finally, the ring worn on the left hand with the heart turned inwards means the wearer is bound forever to their true love. The ring worn on the right hand with the heart turned inwards signals that the wearer has found someone to give their heart to. A ring worn on the right hand with the heart turned outwards is thought to be a sign to the world that your heart has not yet been won. The hands on the ring are believed to represent friendship, the crown loyalty, and the heart love.Įqually symbolic, is how the ring is worn. The tradition behind the ring signifies love and friendship. Claddagh Rings are exchanged, symbolic of the fidelity and mutual affection between the two lovers. Think of the Claddagh Ring and romance springs to mind. Symbolism has long played an important role in Irish heritage and culture, and symbolism lies at the heart of the Claddagh Ring.Īccording to these rings has long been associated with romance, fidelity and Irish culture. In the case of the Claddagh Ring, there is not one but many stories told. Many Celtic traditions have a story to tell. The famous Claddagh Ring is much more than a beautiful piece of jewelry.
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