Irish Traditions

The Beautiful Claddagh Ring Meaning and Claddagh Symbol

The Claddagh ring meaning is all about the strength of eternal love.  

Steeped in tradition, the meaning of the Claddagh ring has varied throughout the years for the wearer. The ring can be worn on different fingers or hands, depending on one’s relationship status.

The Claddagh Ring, without a doubt is one of Ireland’s most famous symbols of heritage. The Claddagh Ring has become a symbol of Ireland. The claddagh symbol depicts two hands gentle holding a heart that is adorned with a royal crown. It symbolizes the strength of a relationship, bound eternally in friendship, love and loyalty. The wearing of the Irish Claddagh ring is a tradition, rich in symbolic meaning and history.

The Claddagh Ring has become a worldwide symbol of Irish culture and heritage loved by all nationalities.

What is the claddagh ring poem?

As you might have heard there is an old Irish saying about the claddagh ring. “With These hands, I give you my heart and crown it with my love.”

Claddagh Rings are world renowned, and are worn by both men and women, single or taken. Irish Claddagh rings are named for the ancient fishing village of Claddagh, near Galway, Ireland, dating back to the 17th century. The Claddagh ring in Irish is fáinne Chladaigh and is a traditional Irish ring which represents love, loyalty, and friendship. The hands represent friendship, the heart represents love, and the crown represents loyalty. The Irish Cladddagh ring, as currently known, was first produced in the 17th century.

Richard Joyce & the story of the Claddagh Ring

The Claddagh Ring is an old Irish ring with two hands holding a heart, surmounted by a crown. According to Irish heritage, the claddagh symbolizes love, loyalty and friendship. The hands represent ‘friendship’, the heart represents ‘love’, and the crown represents ‘loyalty’. Imagine Ireland in the days long ago when a young man named Richard Joyce was captured and sold into slavery from the fishing village of Claddagh off the coast of Ireland. Can you imagine how many years passed while Richard Joyce wondered if his true love waited. As the years wore on he stole tiny bits of gold from his master to make her a ring. He fashioned a heart for love, a crown for loyalty and hands holding heart as a symbol of friendship. Can you just picture the tiny first claddagh ring being made? After many years he returned home to the village of Claddagh Ireland. To his magical delight he discovered his true love had waited for him. He gave her the ring as a symbol of love, loyalty and friendship forever known now as the Claddagh Ring.

What is the meaning of claddagh rings?

So what do claddagh rings mean? Irish or not, if you want to give a token of your friendship, love and loyalty that has meaning, the Claddagh rings may be the choice for you. Claddagh rings, are often mistakenly spelt Clatter Ring or Clodagh Ring, like it sounds (Irish: fáinne Chladaigh) is a traditional Irish ring. The Claddagh ring means eternal love, loyalty, and friendship. Claddagh rings consists of a heart with a crown held by two hands symbolizing love, loyalty and friendship. Claddagh Rings have become a world renowned symbol of love.

What are Claddagh Rings?

The Claddagh ring is really a fede rings and have a long history dating back to Roman times. The name “fede” derives from the Italian phrase mani in fede meaning loosely “hands joined in faith” or “hands joined in loyalty”. The clasped hands were viewed as promise ring used as an engagement ring or wedding ring in medieval and Renaissance Europe. The Irish Claddagh ring is a version of the fede ring has roots deeply seeded in long standing Irish tradition

Claddagh Engagement Ring

You can share your love for your partner with a Claddagh Engagement Ring. Traditionally a claddagh engagement ring is worn on the left hand with the heart facing outward to symbolize engagement and pointed inward for marriage. Claddagh engagement rings have proclaiming love, loyalty and friendship for centuries. Truly any Irish Claddagh Ring can be worn as an Irish Promise Ring or Claddagh Engagement Ring.

Pronouncing the word Claddagh 

The gaelic spelling of the word tells us that ‘Cladach’ was originally pronounced [klad-ukh] and sounded out with a hard, guttural ending common to Irish words. The word is now more commonly pronounced without the ‘gaelic touch’ as [klad-uh].

Explore the breathtaking collection of unique handmade Claddagh Rings designed exclusively by The Irish Jewelry Company.

Claddagh Rings, Interesting Stories, Irish Jewelry, Irish Traditions

Irish Claddagh Ring Meaning and Claddagh Ring Wedding Traditions

Have you ever seen an authentic Claddagh Ring? Chances are if you are Irish or you have taken a trip to Ireland you have seen this beautiful and unique piece of Irish jewelry.

an Irish claddagh ring

By definition a claddagh [ klah-duh ] is a noun. It is a ring in the form of two hands clasping a crowned heart, given in friendship or love.

According to dictionary.com

Expect fine jewelry designer, Jennifer Derrig who is the owner and head designer at The Irish Jewelry Company described the tradition of the Irish claddagh ring as such.

The Claddagh Ring is an instantly recognizable symbol that represents true love and boundless affection. Like a bond between soul mates.

Jennifer Derrig, owner of The Irish Jewelry Company

What are Claddagh Rings?

Claddagh rings are fede rings and have a long history dating back to Roman times. The name “fede” derives from the Italian phrase mani in fede meaning loosely “hands joined in faith” or “hands joined in loyalty”. The clasped hands were viewed as promise ring used as an engagement ring or wedding ring in medieval and Renaissance Europe. Irish Claddagh rings are a version of the fede ring has roots deeply seeded in long standing Irish tradition.

So what do claddagh rings mean?

The Irish say if you want to give a token of your friendship, love and loyalty that has meaning, the Claddagh rings may be the choice for you. Claddagh rings, are often mistakenly spelt Clatter Ring or Clodagh Ring, like it sounds (Irish: fáinne Chladaigh) is a traditional Irish ring. The Claddagh ring literally means eternal love, loyalty, and friendship. Claddagh ring consists of a heart, for love with a crown, for loyalty held by two hands symbolizing friendship. Claddagh Rings have become a famous symbol of love treasure by Irish and non Irish all around the world.

A short history of the Claddagh ring.

Irish Jeweler crafting Irish jewelry on his workbench

Irish folklore says that long ago a young man was captured by Algerian pirates and sold into slavery from the small Irish fishing village of Claddagh. He was taught to be a goldsmith as a slave. Many years in servitude passed and he often wondered if his true love waited for him all this time. Over the years enslaved he stole tiny bits of gold from his master to make her a special ring to convey his love. He fashioned a heart for love, a crown for loyalty and hands as a symbol of friendship. After many years had passed he finally released from his servitude and he returned home to the village of Claddagh. Upon his return to Ireland to his unbelievable joy he discovered that his true love had waited for him. So he presented her the ring he made during his time away as a symbol of his enduring love, loyalty and friendship forever known now as the Claddagh. Do you have someone in your life to which you pledge your love, loyalty and friendship forever?

Traditional matching Claddagh wedding bands

Can a Claddagh Ring be an engagement or wedding ring? 

Claddagh Rings are a universal token of love for lads and lassies. That’s means both men and women an wear Claddagh Rings as promise rings, Claddagh engagement rings or as Claddagh wedding bands. They can also be given as an engagement ring as a symbol of friendship, love and loyalty.

Irish Wedding Bridal Tip

The symbol of the Irish claddagh can be incorporated in many ways during the wedding ceremony. Brides can wear claddagh jewelry, give claddagh jewelry to the bridesmaids and tie a claddagh charm to their bouquet. The claddagh can also be used in the design of the invitations, place cards and on the linens. The groom can also find grooms man gifts such as claddagh engraved flasks and claddagh cufflinks and so much more.

Says Jennifer Derrig, owner of The Irish Jewelry Company

Are there different types of Claddaghs?

There are many unique styles of claddagh jewelry. Most claddagh styles basically have the hands, heart, and crown. However, the Fenian Claddagh, also known as the Dublin Claddagh Ring has two hands holding a heart and no crown was made in Dublin in the 1800’s. Then there is the Trinity Claddagh Ring, a modern twist on the combination of the traditional claddagh ring and trinity knot takes Irish jewelry to a new level of great design.

The claddagh ring is in its simplest form a true token of love. Whatever type of claddagh ring you choose or however your decide to incorporate it in your wedding day its is a symbol all of your guests are sure to recognize.

Shop beautiful and unique Claddagh Rings and Claddagh Jewelry at The Irish Jewelry Company .

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