Given out of friendship, love, or as a wedding ring, the Claddagh ring is a traditional Irish ring that has its orgins from the design and custom of a small Irish fishing village outside of the city Galway called Claddagh. Dating back to the reign of William and Mary during the 17th centure, the Claddagh ring was first created and produced utlizing ancient Roman design elements.
The design of the Claddagh ring is very distinctive in that it is composed of two hands clasping a heart with a royal crown mounted on top. The three design elements incorporated into the Claddagh ring are the qualities of love, symbolized by the heart, friendship symbolized by the clasping hands, and loyalty symbolized by the royal crown. Steeped in its historical origin, the Claddagh ring is typically offered as a gift strengthening the bonds of friendship or as a symbol of a strong relationship.
Traditionally, the ring can be worn in three distinct ways signifying the status of the relationship between the wearer of the ring and the giver of the ring as a gift. First, if the Claddagh ring is worn on a person’s right ring finger with the heart pointing downward towards the fingertip, then the wearer of the rings is to be considered to be not involved in any relationship. Second, it can also symbolize and signify a strong romantic and loving relationship when worn on the same finger with the heart pointing toward the finger tip. Third, if the Claddagh ring is worn on the wedding ring finger on the left hand, then it symbolizes and signifies that the person is engaged to be married, or already married.
The Claddagh ring is shrouded in mystery and has many legends written about its origins, most renowed are those legends associated with the Joyce Family who had lived in Galway. Historically, what is known is that Richard Joyce was a laboring silversmith in the 1700s and the earliest Claddagh ring has been found containing his maker’s mark on the band. Further, around this same time, Thomas Meade, a goldsmith in Galway had his mark affixed to three Claddagh rings that were uncovered dating back to this period in time.
Today, the Claddagh ring is worn predominantly by those of Irish heritage and has been worn as a proud symbol of the culture and that of its symbolism as an engagement ring or wedding ring. Popularized by movies and television shows, the Claddagh ring has often been used as plot devices or as a symbol to signify the Irish heritage or relationship status of a portrayed character. Further, the Claddagh ring has often been used in its historical connotation of illustrating a wedding scene or when given between to characters to signify that there has been a change in their relationship status. Regardless, the Claddagh ring continues to be an important facet of Irish heritage and culture, and truly symbolizes love, friendship and loyalty.