The Claddagh ring design has been around for years and years, but not many people know about the history and symbolism behind it.

Irish Claddagh Ring Folklore

The legend of the Claddagh ring goes back to Ireland during the 16th century.

In the 1670s a fishing boat from the Claddagh village was captured by an Algerian pirate ship while travelling to Latin America. The entire crew, including a young man named Richard Joyce was sold into slavery. Joyce was engaged and was to be married within the same week of his capture.

The wealthy goldsmith who bought Joyce had taught him the art of being a smith, teaching him enough about the trade that Joyce became very skilled. Joyce crafted a ring in memory of his fiance representing different aspects of their relationship: love (the heart), friendship (the hands), and loyalty (the crown), and thus, the first concept of the Claddagh ring was created.

About 14 years passed and Joyce never forgot his long lost love. Some stories say he miraculously found the perfect opportunity to escape and flee back to Ireland while others say King William III sent an ambassador to demand all captives that are British citizens be returned. Either way, he made it back to Ireland.

When he arrived back to his village of Claddagh, the first thing he did was returned to his former fiance. To his surprise, she had never married. Joyce didn’t waste any more time and the two wed immediately! Instead of giving her the traditional wedding ring of the time, he had gifted the ring he smithed while working as a slave.

It Goes Back Further

Many argue that the Claddagh ring isn’t its own group of rings, but part of a larger one. The “Fede Rings” are a collection of European rings depicting two hands joined together.

“Fede” comes from the Italian phrase “mani in fede,” which translates to “hands in faith” or “hands in loyalty.” The fede rings can be traced back to Roman times when folded hands symbolized pledging vows, specifically for engagements or weddings. This was particularly popular during the Medieval and Renaissance eras in Europe.

This is why there are suggestions that Claddagh rings have been worn since the days of Ancient Rome.

Modern Day Claddagh Ring Boom

As of the late 20th century, the popularity of Claddagh rings was through the roof! The design became an icon in Irish heritage and fashion. As time went on, more jewellery designers incorporated more Celtic and Irish motifs and symbols while creating their versions of Claddagh rings.

Traditional Claddagh Ring Uses

As you can tell by reading this blog post, the Claddagh ring holds a lot of symbolism and traditional significance. While many people follow these guidelines, others disregard them as old wives’ tales or see them as an old-fashioned way of thinking.

There are different ways to wear Claddagh rings that hold specific meanings:

• Single people are supposed to wear the ring on the right hand with the crown turned away from themself.
• People in relationships should wear the ring on the right hand towards themself (upside down).
• Anyone who’s engaged should wear the ring on the left had with the crown turned outwards.
• Married people should wear the Claddaghon their left hand with the crown inwards, toward the person wearing it.

Traditionally, the Claddagh is given to loved ones. In Ireland, mothers gift them to their daughters (especially if it’s been in the family for a while), or sometimes they’re exchanged between people who are betrothed to each other.

It should be noted that because Claddagh symbolizes love, friendship, and loyalty, it’s bad luck to buy one for yourself – again, traditionally speaking. However, there’s no restriction on age or gender for these rings, making the Claddagh ring a great gift for any fashion-forward person in your life!