HISTORY OF THE CLADDAGH RING
Fallers Sterling Silver Claddagh Ring
Claddagh Ring: Crown represents Loyalty, the Hands are for Friendship and the Heart represents Love.
Many myths and fables surround the Claddagh Ring. Ireland’s symbol of Love, Loyalty and Friendship. However the most substantiated and historically accurate would be the story of Richard Joyce.
Whilst on a voyage in the Mediterranean he was taken captive by Algerian pirates, and spent many years in captivity. There he acquired his skill as an artificer in precious metals. When William III came to the throne of England in 1689, he concluded an agreement whereby all his subjects who were held in captivity by the moors were to be allowed to return to their homes. However, Joyce’s master had become so attached to him that he attempted to keep the Galway man by offering his most beautiful daughter as his bride. This offer, however, Joyce refused, and he returned to his homeland.
Several examples of Joyce’s works are still in existence. He flourished as a craftsman in gold and silver in Galway up to about 1730. Some of his Claddagh Rings and Silver Chalices still survive in Museums and collections throughout Ireland. Whether Joyce came upon the Claddagh symbolism on his travels or if it was originally his design we will never know. What we can ascertain is that the Claddagh Ring enjoys an antiquity of at least 300 years and Richard Joyce is the earliest known maker of this unique ring.
No particular reason could be advanced as to why the quaint village of the Claddagh should be held to have the most proprietary interest in these rings, as they were found to have been worn the whole way across County Galway. But it is certain that by the middle of the nineteenth century that they were more popular here than elsewhere. They were kept as heirlooms with great pride and passed from grandmother to granddaughter. They were used as wedding rings, and the Claddagh folk were prepared to stint themselves to make money to purchase good examples.
The Claddagh village has now disappeared. But up to about 60 years ago, it was a highly self-contained community with something approaching local autonomy. There was an elected king who controlled their activities and their fishing fleet, which was their main source of income. He alone was allowed to use white sails on his hooker, and he had the rare distinction of flying a flag. As far as we know, it has not been possible to find out what devices appeared on this flag, but it would not be too fanciful to hope that it was some form of joined hands supporting a crowned heart.
Rings like the Claddagh Ring have been worn in Brittany and in Spain. But it would hardly be scientific to assume from the fact that the emblem embodies some primitive Celtic archetype. Gaelic literature throws no light on the mystery of the emblem’s origin. In more recent years the Claddagh Ring has developed worldwide renown and is given and worn as a symbol of Love, Loyalty and Friendship. It is also worn with great pride by the Irish Diaspora throughout the world as a symbol of their Irish heritage, linking 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation Irish with the romantic and endearing home of their ancestors. Today, there are many variations of the Claddagh Ring available from different metals to different styles. Stone Set and Diamond Claddagh Rings are popular as Engagement Rings. Claddagh Bands make ideal Weddings Rings and the traditional Claddagh Ring while still worn as a wedding ring is now popular among all generations from the young to the old.
