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Claddagh
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Claddagh
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Claddagh
History 2
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Cross of Moone
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Cross of Ahenny
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Legend
of the Claddagh Ring
There are many stories about the Claddagh ring. Claddagh
itself refers to a small fishing village just near Galway city.
The Claddagh ring supposedly originated in this area. The ring has
a design of a heart being encircled by a pair of delicate hands
with a crown above the heart. In earlier times this design was the
symbol of the "Fishing Kings of Claddagh" meaning 'in
love and friendship let us reign'. In the 17th century the symbol
was first depicted on a ring which became the fashionable exchange
of friends or lovers. In marriage the heart was worn towards the
wrist otherwise towards the fingertips.
The original Claddagh ring is generally attributed to one Richard
Joyce, of Galway. Joyce departed from Claddagh, a small fishing
village where the waters of the River Corrib meet Galway Bay, on
a ship enroute to the plantations of the West Indies. That week
he was to was to be married, but his ship was captured by Mediterranean
Algerian pirates and the crew were sold as a slaves; Richard Joyce
was sold to a Moorish goldsmith who trained him in his craft. He
soon became a master in his trade and hand crafted a ring for the
woman at home he could not forget. In 1689 he was released after
William III came to the throne of England and concluded an agreement
whereby all his subjects who where held in captivity by the Moors
were to be allowed return to their homes. The Moorish goldsmith
offered Richard his only daughter in marriage and half his wealth
if he would remain in Algiers. He declined and returned to Claddagh
to find that the woman of his heart had never married. He gave her
the ring and they were married and he set up a goldsmith shop in
the town of Claddagh. (The Claddagh is said to be the oldest fishing
village in Ireland). The earliest Claddagh rings to be traced bear
his mark and the initial letters of his name, RI (Richard Joyce).
By tradition the ring is taken to signify the wish that Love and
friendship should reign supreme. The hands signify friendship, the
crown loyalty, and the heart love. The ring has become popular outside
Connemara since the middle of the last century - its spread being
helped by the vast exodus from the West during the great Famine
in 1847-49. These rings were kept as heirlooms with great pride
and passed from mother to daughter. Today, the ring is worn extensively
across Ireland, either on the right hand with the heart turned outwards
showing that the wearer is "fancy free" or with the heart
turned inwards to denote that he or she is "spoken for".
The pride of place is on the left hand, with the heart turned in,
indicating that the wearer is happily married and the love and friendship
will last forever, the two never separated.
King
William and the Claddagh Ring - Alternative Legend
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