The Claddagh Ring
Love, loyalty and friendship
Not far past the cobbled streets of Galway
City, across the Wolfe Tone Bridge and upon the stretches
of Galway Bay, lies the Claddagh. Today this ancient
fisherman's village is little more than a memory of
the unique and idiosyncratic people who maintained a
sovereign settlement here until the death of their last
King, Martin Oliver, in 1972. Remarkably, the story
of the Claddagh will likely be carried into posterity
by the ring that bears its name.
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View the wonderful selection of modern and traditional Claddagh Rings at the Claddagh Jewellers
online shop. |
The celebrated Claddagh ring, as we know
it today, stands as a monument to love and friendship.
The design is striking and unmistakable, two hands joined
together to support a single heart, and upon it a crown.
Its motto, not surprisingly, is 'let love and friendship
reign'. Traditionally, the rings can be worn in three
different manners, all declaring a different status
in the quest for love. When worn on the right hand with
the heart facing outward toward the nail, the ring signifies
one whose heart is free. When the heart is facing inward,
toward the knuckle of the right hand, it indicates that
the heart is no longer available. And finally, if the
ring is to appear upon the left hand, it traditionally
means that love has been plighted.
For images of Claddagh Rings and details of its history, visit The Claddagh Ring website.
The story of the Claddagh Ring
The tale of the ring is one of the greatest
to be heard in Galway. It is said that by the year 1900
the Claddagh ring had become as important to the mythology
of the city as the 14 merchant families, or tribes,
that led Galway as a virtual city-state during much
of the 13th through 17th centuries. Adding to the intrigue
is the simple fact that no one can say for certain just
where the ring originated, who made it first, or exactly
what its connexion with the Claddagh is. Interestingly,
through the mists of history and folklore, one name
has become more associated with the origin of the ring
than any other – Richard Joyes.
The story of Richard Joyes (his own variation
of Joyce) is nothing short of remarkable. As it is told,
after embarking on a voyage for the West Indies, Richard
was captured by an Algerian pirate and subsequently
sold into slavery. His purchaser was a wealthy and skilled
goldsmith who, noticing Richard to be clever and adroit,
trained him as an apprentice. Richard became marvelously
skilled at the trade earning the lasting respect of
his master. Meanwhile, King William III had ascended
the throne of England and as a matter of first action
he sent an ambassador to Algiers to demand the immediate
release of all British subjects. Upon learning the news
of Richard's imminent release, the Moor offered Richard
the hand of his only daughter in hope that he might
stay. Richard declined and shortly thereafter departed
for Galway where he began a new life as an independent
jeweller, his most famous creation being the Claddagh
ring – some of which, bearing Joyes distinctive
jeweller's mark, still exist today.
Claddagh: The Tale of the Ring
This beautifully-illustrated and engaging children's book tells the story of the first Claddagh Ring. A heart-warming Galway tale that has captured the imagination of children and adults alike.
Read more about the book at CladdaghTale.com. |
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Another account of the ring's origin
attributes the ring to Margaret Joyce, the wealthy widow
of a Spanish wine merchant who returned to Galway and
married the city's governor somewhere around the year
1600. It is said that Margaret, being fond of philanthropy,
built the greater portion of the bridges of Connaught
with her own money. One day while overseeing the construction
of the bridges an eagle flying overhead let the original
Claddagh ring fall to her in reward for her extraordinary
generosity.
As for the ring's association with the
Claddagh, it might well have been an accident. Although
the people of the Claddagh, which were known for their
dislike of new things, astoundingly adopted the ring
in a nearly universal fashion, there is little to suggest
that the rings themselves first originated with the
people of that small fishing community. Remarkably,
the association may have come from the coincidental
printing of a picture of the ring (then referred to
as a the 'Galway ring') and a description of the Claddagh
on the same page of a British travel publication by
Anne and Samuel Hall during the 1850's. But as with
all things of this nature, there may well be far more
to the truth than the evidence that we have, and anything
is possible.
So it is that the true history of this,
the most famous of Irish rings, remains elusive –
always obscured by the cloak laid softly upon it by
myth and folklore. But we would be wise to remember
that this is precisely what enthralls our imagination
the most. And if we are lucky enough to look down upon
a Claddagh ring on our own hand someday, we might capture
a fleeting glimpse of the mystery and wonder that has
decorated the saga of the ring with such poetic grandeur.
The reader interested in more information
on the Claddagh ring and its illustrious history is
encouraged to purchase a copy of Sean McMahon's The
Story of the Claddagh Ring, Mercier Press, 1999. Or
visit T. Dillon & Sons, the oldest and most renowned
Claddagh jewellry shop and museum in Galway.
Jeremy M. Usher
November 2000
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