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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
View
our Claddagh Rings Collection
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