| I think the
Claddagh Ring is one of the most beautiful rings.
It also has a very special meaning. It has a
wonderful love story to go with it. The romantic
story of the mystical and beautiful Claddagh Ring
began way back over 300 years ago in the ancient
fishing village of Claddagh just outside the
walls of the City of Galway on the west coast of
Ireland.
Legend has
it that a fishing boat from the village was
captured by pirates and sold into slavery, the
property of a rich Turkish goldsmith. One of the
crew, a man named Richard Joyce was to have been
married the same week of the capture.
As the years
went by neither married, Richard Joyce was put to
work at the trade of goldsmithing. In time Joyce
became a master craftsman, never forgetting his
girl back home, he made a ring of gold for her,
with a heart for love, a crown for loyalty and
two hands for friendship.
Eventually,
after eight years he escaped his captors and
returned to his village, and to his great joy he
found that his love had never given up hope of
seeing him again. He gave her the ring he had
made and they were married, never to be separated
again.
Wear this
ring on your right hand with the heart facing
outwards and the world will know your heart has
not yet been won. Wear it on the right hand with
the heart facing inwards and it shows you have
friendship and love under consideration. But worn
on your left hand with the heart turned inwards
it means two loves have joined forever.
The rings
were kept as family heirlooms which were passed
lovingly down from mother to daughter on her
wedding day.
The design
has now become very popular internationally. The
simplicity of the ring and the symbolism it
conveys, makes it the perfect gift for friend or
loved one.
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