The Claddagh Ring
SAM HAM Claddagh Ring
The Claddagh ring has a legendary status in Ireland and across the Irish diaspora. It is a symbol of love, friendship and loyalty that has survived throughout centuries of Irish history. My interest with the Claddagh ring began relatively recently. I have been living in London for a good few years now and during the COVID-19 outbreak I was unable to get back home to Ireland and see my friends and family. I began thinking about my home and how I could connect to my heritage while being away. I was amazed by the rich history of the Claddagh and how intrinsically it is linked to Irish heritage.
The Origins of the Claddagh Ring
There are many legends about the origins of the Claddagh ring, or as it is known in the Irish language Fáinne Chladaigh. The only thing we know for sure is that the ring gets it’s name from a small fishing town just outside of Galway, Claddagh, this village gained its name from the Irish word Cladach, meaning a flat beach or shore.
The most commonly believed legend is that the claddagh ring was created by a man named Richard Joyce sometime around the 17th century. Richard came from a family of fishermen in Claddagh that were taken by pirates and sold into slavery. It is thought that Richard was forced to work for a goldsmith and managed to steal little pieces of gold throughout his time there. When he finally returned home used this gold to craft the first ever Claddagh ring for his beloved as a symbol of their love and loyalty to each other.
This theory is heavily supported by the discovery of a Fede ring- a ring featuring two clasped hands and believed to have inspired the design of the claddagh- off the coast of Antrim amongst the wreck of a Spanish Armada ship.
Another legend claims that a woman named Margaret Joyce married a rich man in the 16th century, when he passed she used his money to build new bridges. To thank her for her good deed a bird dropped the first ever claddagh ring into her lap…..this story is arguably a little less believable!
The Symbolism of the Claddagh
Regardless of which origin story you believe, it is undeniable that the claddagh ring has taken on a iconic status. It is instantly recognisable, the ring has become such a strong symbol as a result of its design. The heart, the hands and the crown have truly stood the testament of time and can be seen in modern interpretations of the claddagh ring.
The Heart: commonly acknowledged as a symbol of love the heart can be used to represent love for your partner, family, friends or yourself.
The Hands: the hands on the claddagh symbolise friendship, some wear the claddagh to symbolise their most important friendships rather than romantic love.
The Crown: lastly, the crown symbolises loyalty, and commitment to your loved ones.
The main element of the Claddagh that I felt made sense for me to sit down and createw my own interpretation is the design has always been considered unisex. It holds the same meaning for men and women, the message behind the claddagh is a powerful representation of relationships and endless commitment. For this reason they are often used as engagement rings or wedding bands.
How to wear your Claddagh
The utility of the Claddagh ring has always been something that I found appealing: depending on the finger, the direction of the heart and what hand you wore it on meant something different.
Traditionally the claddagh ring was worn on the ring finger of your left hand with the heart facing out to symbolise engagement, or facing in to state that you were married. If you are single and open to finding love you should wear the ring on the ring finger of your right hand, facing outwards.
The claddagh ring does not only represent romantic relationships, you can wear your ring on any of your other fingers with the heart facing inwards. This symbolises your love and commitment to your family, friends or even to yourself.
SAM HAM Claddagh
The history and symbolism of the claddagh ring inspired me to create my own. The process allowed me to interpret with an iconic motif and play with its preceptions, hopefully moving it more towards its orignal purpose, as well as being a souvenir from the ‘green green grass of home‘. Whether you live in Ireland, were born in Ireland or just like the look of them the beauty of the claddagh ring is that they are for everyone.
As they say “with these hands I give you my heart and I crown it with my love.”