Claddagh
Ring and King William of Orange
There are many versions of the Claddagh legend. One
of the more interesting and unlikely versions goes as follows;
It May be one of the most recognizable symbol of Ireland
across the globe but one historian claims that we have the British
to thank for the Claddagh ring.
Today, it is sold across the country and snapped up by visitors
looking for a special souvenir of Ireland. But according to Rob
Vance, the ring, which features two hands clasping a heart, has
been hiding a secret - it was designed in honor of William of Orange.
Mr. Vance also says that the ring was only made popular after Queen
Victoria demanded that a Lonely Planet-type guide was written about
the the country.
'It was actually designed by a Richard Joyce who was the son of
a Galway merchant and who was kidnapped by pirates in 1688 on his
way to Bordeaux on the West coast of France. He was sold into the
slave marked in Algiers and was brought by a gold merchant who set
him to work as a jeweler, making rings. When William of Orange came
to the throne in 1690, one of the things he organized was to free
all the slaves. As a result, Joyce was released and he made his
way back to Galway. The first thing he did as design a ring to show
his gratitude to William of Orange for freeing him. He took the
old Gemmel ring and put a crown on top of it and called it the Galway."
Mr. Vance uncovered the murky history of the Claddagh while researching
for his new series of Urban Tales, which was shown on RTE. But it
was Queen Victoria that cemented the ring's place in Ireland's history.
"When she came to Ireland she really launched it on the world.
She was followed by other travelers and particularly a couple, Colonel
and Mrs. Hall, who wrote olden day travel books.
"She suggested they write one about Ireland so they came to
Galway and on one page they did an illustration of the Claddagh
fishing village and put a drawing of the ring beside it. The nest
thing the ring was being referred to as the Claddagh ring.
Legend
of The Claddagh Ring - Official Version
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