The craic with Catherine: the Claddagh

The hands are for friendship, the heart is for love, and loyalty is shown with the crown up above.

These are the words inscribed on a plaque outside the Thomas Dillon and Son Claddagh ring store, describing the design of the Claddagh ring itself. The store was built in 1750 and still stands in Galway today. Key symbols of Ireland and Irish culture include things like the harp and the four-leaf clover. The Claddagh is another important symbol.

The Claddagh features a heart (for love) wearing a crown (loyalty), held by two hands (friendship). Galway is the birthplace of the Claddagh, especially its popular design as a ring. The ring is popular today for its visual appeal and historical association with the Claddagh of Galway on the River Corrib.

The Claddagh of Galway refers to a Gaelic-speaking fishing village near the Galway Bay. It was once a separate village from the town of Galway. Today, the two have joined together and most of the thatch roof houses were replaced with modern housing in the 1930s.

How you wear the Claddagh ring holds symbolic meaning. Worn on the right hand, if the heart points away from you it means you’re single. If the heart points towards you, you’re in a relationship. Worn on the left hand, heart away means engaged and heart towards you means married. The ring was originally a wedding token.

The Claddagh ring has a special place in my heart and family history, so I was eager to discover more about its origins.

My personal history with the Claddagh ring started with my mother’s ring; as a child it was my favorite piece of her jewelry. The ring was given to my mother from her sister after she studied abroad in Connemara and brought it back as a gift. Our family is from the southwest area of Ireland and that part of her heritage holds a special place for my mother.

I was simply awed by the beauty of the ring and what it stood for. Later in life, I would come to understand how the symbolism represents my family’s dedication to one another and to our country, as seen by generations of U.S. military service.

The Claddagh ring is such an important part of my heritage and I had to discover more about it since I’m now in the ring’s very birthplace.

A trip to a small Claddagh museum and the Galway City Museum helped shed some light on the ring’s history. There are two stories of how the Claddagh developed into a ring so often worn and recognized today. Both stories relate to one of the Tribes of Galway, the Joyce family.

A legend tells of Margaret Joyce, who married a wealthy Spaniard. When he died, he left her an entire fortune, which she then used to benefit the Province of Connacht. She was rewarded for her work and her charity when an eagle dropped a Claddagh ring in her lap.

The more factual story is that of Richard Joyce. En route to the West Indies, Richard was captured and sold as a slave to a Moorish goldsmith. He was trained in smithing and then released in 1689. William III of England offered Richard several incentives to stick around, including the promise of a job and a wife, but he decided to return to Galway, set up shop as a goldsmith and eventually create the first Claddagh ring.

The ring has become especially popular in the last century and the Claddagh is the only ring made in Ireland that was worn by Queen Victoria, Queen Alexandra and King Edward VII. Walking through shops, the Claddagh can also be found on necklaces and other decorations and it is recognized as a key symbol of Ireland.