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.