The Claddagh Ring: A Small Circle with a Big Story

Céad Míle Fáilte – and welcome to your Letter from Ireland for this week. The gorse is blooming brilliant yellow across the hillsides here in County Cork, and we continue to enjoy gloriously sunny days. How are things in your part of the world today?

I’m enjoying a mug of Bell’s coffee as I write, and I hope you’ll join me with whatever you fancy as we start into today’s letter. This week, I want to share the story behind perhaps one of the most recognised symbol of Irish heritage around the world – the Claddagh ring.

Last month, I received this message from Sarah in Adelaide, Australia:

“Mike, I’ve treasured my grandmother’s Claddagh ring for years. She told me it came from Galway, but I know little about its origins. My daughter is getting married next year and would like to incorporate the Claddagh into her ceremony. Could you tell us more about this beautiful symbol?”

The Claddagh ring’s design is deceptively simple yet deeply meaningful: two hands holding a heart, topped with a crown. These elements represent love (the heart), friendship (the hands), and loyalty (the crown) – three values at the core of Irish relationships.

 

The Legend of Richard Joyce

The most quoted origin story centres around a young man named Richard Joyce who came from the fishing village of Claddagh, just outside Galway, in the 17th century.

It is said that Joyce was captured by Algerian pirates just before his wedding day and sold into slavery to a Moorish goldsmith who trained him in the craft. When King William III negotiated the release of British subjects in 1689, Joyce’s master offered him wealth and his daughter’s hand in marriage if he would stay. But Joyce’s heart remained in Ireland.

On his return to Galway, Joyce discovered his beloved had never married, faithfully awaiting his return. He gave her the ring he had crafted, and they married. Joyce established himself as a goldsmith in Galway, where he crafted Claddagh rings until his death in 1737.

While historians debate the details, the earliest documented Claddagh rings do date from this period. Whether entirely true or “somewhat embellished”, the tale captures the romantic spirit that has made the Claddagh ring so beloved.

A Language Without Words: How to Wear the Claddagh Ring

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Claddagh ring is its traditional “language” – how you wear it communicates your heart’s status:

• Worn on the right hand with the heart facing outward: The wearer’s heart is not yet taken.
• Worn on the right hand with the heart facing inward: The wearer’s heart belongs to someone.
• Worn on the left hand with the heart facing inward: The wearer is married or engaged.

I remember my mother showing me how her mother had worn her Claddagh on her right hand, heart outward, until my grandfather asked her to walk out with him. That evening, she turned the ring around. Years later, on their wedding day, she moved it to her left hand, where it remained for over fifty years.

 

From Galway to the World

While the Claddagh ring was originally specific to western Ireland, the devastating Famine of the 1840s inadvertently spread this cultural symbol across the globe. As millions of Irish people emigrated, they carried these rings as precious reminders of home.

Often, a mother would give her daughter a Claddagh ring before she departed for America, Australia, or elsewhere – a symbol of the hands that would no longer be able to embrace in person. Over generations, these rings became treasured family heirlooms.

By the early 20th century, the Claddagh ring had become recognised internationally as a symbol of Irish heritage. Today, it’s common to see Claddagh rings worn by people of Irish descent who maintain a deep connection to their ancestral homeland.

Today, the Claddagh ring has transcended its origins, though its core meaning remains unchanged. You’ll find Claddagh rings exchanged as engagement or wedding rings, given for milestone birthdays, or as symbols of friendship.

In Galway city, several jewellers claim connection to Richard Joyce, and the tradition of Claddagh craftsmanship continues. The ring has become an iconic souvenir for visitors to Ireland and a popular gift for those with even distant Irish connections.

 

Your Own Claddagh Story

Whether you wear a Claddagh that has been in your family for generations or are considering purchasing your first one, these rings connect us to centuries of Irish tradition. Their message of love, loyalty, and friendship transcends time and speaks to the human heart regardless of heritage.

I hope this helps you appreciate the rich history behind your grandmother’s Claddagh ring, Sarah. When your daughter incorporates this symbol into her wedding, she’ll be connecting not just with your family’s Irish heritage but with centuries of tradition.

I’d love to hear about your own Claddagh story. Do you wear a Claddagh ring? Is there a special story behind how you received it? Share your stories in the comments below!

Slán for now,

Mike