Claddagh Rings-Meaningful and Symbolic

Although you may get different accounts from different sources when you ask about the origin of Claddagh rings, the most historically accurate story is that of Richard Joyce. Joyce was a man of Irish descent and one day as he was sailing the seas, he found himself kidnapped by a cruel band of Mediterranean pirates. These pirates, lacking in mercy completely, sold Joyce in slavery to a Moorish goldsmith. Little did the pirates know, they were actually doing the young Joyce somewhat of a favor. Although Joyce pined daily for the love of his life that he had left behind in Ireland, he was able to work with the Moorish goldsmith and learn the intricate craft of working with gold. During his years in exile and imprisonment, Joyce worked on a great variety of gold projects, but none was more special than the unique ring he was crafting for the woman he loved.

In the year 1689, King William III (the king of England and Ireland) negotiated the return of all slaves to Ireland, and Joyce was free to move home. Because he had formed a good relationship with his Moor teacher, the goldsmith offered Joyce his daughter's hand in marriage and a dowry of half of all of his wealth. As tempting as the offer may have been, Joyce knew that he had to return to Ireland and to the true love of his life.

Upon his return to the Emerald Isle, Joyce presented his love with the ring he had been working on for years as a symbol of their enduring love. The two hands were meant to represent their friendship, the crown was meant to symbolize their loyalty and lasting fidelity and the heart was meant to symbolize their eternal and everlasting love for one another. Soon after Joyce's return home, and giving the Claddagh ring to his love, the two were soon married.

There is a particular way to wear Claddagh rings in contemporary society according to your relationship status. If your heart is available, you wear Claddagh rings on your right ring finger with the heart facing outward. If you are in a relationship but not engaged or married, wear Claddagh rings on your right hand with the heart facing inward. Once you become engaged, move the Claddagh ring to your left hand, but keep the heart facing outward. Having the ring on your left ring finger will show the world that you are engaged to be married, and once you are married and sharing your life together, turn the ring so that the heart is facing inward.

If you do not know much about the village of Claddagh, it lay in Galway, on the opposite side of the harbor and apart from the town. It contained many little interwoven streets, and about 1500 fisherman, their wives and family inhabited the village. Fishing was the main trade of this large village, and it is for this village that Claddagh rings are named.