The traditional Irish Claddagh, once unique to County Galway, has gone beyond its Irish roots to become a popular choice for wedding rings worldwide. Besides being beautiful, Claddagh wedding rings have both a specific language all their own and a romantic story based upon their origins and history.
The Claddagh is made up of a circular band forming two hands holding a crowned heart and is traditionally made of silver, but also often made of gold or a combination of the two. The heart can also be set with a diamond or other gemstone, or be comprised entirely of a heart-shaped diamond, emerald, ruby, peridot, or any gemstone or semi-precious stone that you wish. Endless varieties of Claddagh wedding bands can be found. Sometimes the Claddagh symbol will be repeated in an endless loop around the ring.
The story of the Claddagh goes back to a Galway man named Richard Joyce. Around 1680, Joyce was taken hostage by Algerian pirates while on a Mediterranean voyage and spent years in captivity in Tunis, where he learned to be an expert artificer in precious metals. When William III became king of England in 1689, he fostered a peace treaty with the Moors whereby all captives were set free. Joyce's master, who had become attached to him and recognized the value of his skill, offered the hand of his beautiful daughter to Joyce so that he would stay. Joyce, however, had a love waiting for him back home who had never wavered in her faithfulness. Upon his return he presented her with the ring we now recognize as the Claddagh, and went on to have a long and distinguished career designing original jewelry from silver and gold.
The village of Claddagh, in county Galway, was the home of the original "fisher kings", and until about 70 years ago it thrived as a self-contained, self-governing community. After the potato famine, the Claddagh ring was worn by the Irish Diaspora throughout the world as a link to their heritage and their ancestors.
The language of the Claddagh wedding ring is clearly defined. It is known as a symbol of love, loyalty, friendship and fidelity. Worn on the right hand with the crown pointing away from the fingernail, it signifies that the wearer's heart is free. When worn on the right hand with the crown pointing toward the fingernail, the wearer is involved or engaged. When worn on the left hand with the crown pointing toward the fingernail, the wearer is married and their heart is forever taken.
Besides its widespread use as a wedding ring, the Claddagh is also traditionally handed down from mother to daughter or granddaughter, and may be the beginning of a beautiful tradition in your family as a gift from the groom's mother or grandmother to the bride. In this manner it symbolizes a tie with ancestors and past traditions.
Notable wearers of the Claddagh ring include King Edward VII and Queen Alexandria of Britain, and Queen Victoria. It is also worn by the Royal family of Monaco in remembrance of American-born Princess Grace, whose roots were Irish and who rivals Princess Diana as the fairy-tale princess bride of the 20th century.
You can find Claddagh wedding bands of any style to fit your individual desires, and integrate these beautiful stories into your own romance.
