This fanciful legend had a more factual opponent in the story of Richard Joyce, or Joyces. Margaret, who later married Oliver Of Ffrench, Mayor of Galway 1596, was providentially rewarded for her good works and charity by an eagle which dropped a gold ring into her lap. Margaret Joyce married Domingo de Rona, a wealthy Spaniard, who, when he died, left her his fortune, which she subsequently used to build bridges in the Province of Connacht. This distinctive design is associated with one of the Tribes of Galway, the Joyce family. This motif is explained in the phrase: “Let Love and Friendship reign”, and ideal poesy for a wedding ring used by a small community for over four hundred years. The ring shows two hands holding a heart which wears a crown. The Claddagh outside the City Walls, and further separated by the River Corrib, was exclusive community or fisher-folk forbidden to use spade or hoe and ruled by a periodically-elected “King” whose sole distinguishing mark was his right to use a white sail on his fishing hooker. Worn by men and women alike, many couples exchange Claddagh wedding rings as a special way to make their marriage both traditional and unique.The Claddagh Ring is believed to have originated in the fishing village situated near the “shore” or “Claddagh” of Galway Bay. This says to the world that you are married and your heart is taken forever. If you're married, wear the ring on your left hand ring finger with the heart pointed inward.If you're engaged, wear the ring on the left hand with the heart pointed outward to indicate that you're in a lifelong commitment.If you're in a relationship, wear the ring on your right hand with the point of the heart facing inward.This shows that your heart is open to love. If you're single, wear the ring on your right hand with the point of the heart facing outward (i.e.There are many reasons to wear a Claddagh ring, but the way you wear it (at least according to Irish tradition) may vary: They are given as engagement rings, worn as wedding bands, used in handfasting ceremonies, or exchanged as tokens of friendship. How to Wear a Claddagh RingĬladdagh rings have become popular far beyond their Irish origins and are worn by people around the world for many different reasons. The earliest surviving Claddagh rings include the mark of Richard Joyce's initials, further evidence of this being the legitimate origin story. Apprenticed to a master goldsmith and taught his trade, Joyce was eventually freed from slavery and returned to his love in Galway where he started his own jewelry business and began making the first Claddagh rings. In this version of the tale, Joyce was captured by pirates and sold into slavery while sailing in the West Indies. As the legend goes, she used her fortune to build the first bridges in Galway and Sligo, and was rewarded for her good work and charity when an eagle dropped the first Claddagh ring into her lap.Īnother story of the ring's origin (and a much more plausible one) involves another Joyce, in this case, ringmaker Richard Joyce, a native of the village of Claddagh in the 17th century. One of the more popular myths surrounding the Claddagh ring relates to Margaret Joyce, a young woman from Galway in the 16th century who married a Spaniard named Domingo de Rona and was left with half his fortune when he died. They have strong ties to the small fishing village of Claddagh in County Galway. What we know for sure is that the rings have been produced in Galway, Ireland since at least the 1700s, although they weren't referred to as Claddagh rings until at least the 1830s. There are many myths and legends surrounding the origin of the Claddagh ring, some based more in historical fact than others. Fede rings get their name from the Italian phrase " mani in fede", or "hands joined in faith." Claddagh rings, of course, have a whole story of their own. They belong to a larger European tradition of rings known as fede rings. Each of these elements has its own meaning: the hands represent friendship, the heart symbolizes true love, and the crown is for loyalty.Ĭladdagh rings have been around for centuries, with some of the earliest iterations dating back to the 1700s. The classic Claddagh design includes two hands clasped around a heart topped with a crown. There's an old Irish saying that goes along with the Claddagh ring: "With these hands, I give you my heart and crown it with my love." The ring represents love, loyalty and friendship. Its distinctive design is widely worn and easily recognized, but what is the origin of this unique ring? How and when does one wear one, and can it be worn as a wedding band? Irish Claddagh Ring Meaning With its roots in traditional Irish folklore, the Claddagh (pronounced klad-uh) ring is a classic symbol of love and affection. South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands (GBP £)
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