All over Ireland people know of the famous claddagh (klah-duh) ring. This ring has become famous all over the world because of what it symbolizes and the story behind it.
Over four hundred years ago in the Irish village of Claddagh, Galway, a young man named Richard Joyce promised the woman he loved that he would return home after he made his fortune in the West Indies. Along the way, he was captured by Spanish pirates at sea, and they sold him to a Moorish tradesman.
It was there that he learned how to make jewelry, and sometime later Joyce managed to get his freedom. Then he made the long journey back to Ireland where he hoped that the love of his life had waited for him; thankfully she did.
Shortly, after he created a ring that would forever symbolize their everlasting love and fidelity. The ring was meant to represent love, loyalty, and friendship.
The ring’s design includes hands representing friendship, a heart representing love, and a crown representing loyalty. The hands are clasped together and symbolizing faith.
The way a person wears the ring has a specific meaning to: if it is on the right hand with the heart toward the fingertips, the wearer is single and may be looking for love. If it is on the right hand with the point of the heart toward you then that means you belong to someone.
If it’s on the left hand with the point of the heart pointed towards your fingertips then the person’s engaged. If it’s on the left hand with the point of the heart toward your body, then the wearer is married.