Why Everyone Wants the Claddagh Ring, the Irish Symbol of Love?

The island of Ireland hides some of the most curious romantic traditions to celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14th. One example is the famous Claddagh ring, a piece of jewelry shared by lovers as a symbol of eternal love.

The ring, shaped like two hands holding a heart topped with a crown, originated 300 years ago in Claddagh, an old fishing village on the shores of Galway Bay in the rugged west of Ireland. The heart symbolizes love; the hands represent friendship; and the crown signifies loyalty and fidelity.

Thus, the jewelry is given as a symbol of friendship, to solidify a relationship, or even to propose marriage. Indeed, the ring has different meanings depending on how it is worn. For example, on the right hand with the heart pointing inward means you have found love, but with the heart facing outward means the opposite. Wearing it on the left hand with the heart inward symbolizes a greater commitment, meaning your heart truly belongs to someone else.

This jewelry has achieved worldwide fame for its beauty and symbolism, to the extent that Thomas Dillon's, the oldest jewelry store in Ireland located in Galway and the original makers of the Claddagh ring, have crafted this piece for royalty, world leaders, famous musicians, and movie stars, such as Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Aniston, and Daniel Day-Lewis.

The origins of the ring trace back to an ancient Irish legend that tells of a man from the village of Claddagh named Richard Joyce, who emigrated to the East Indies for work, hoping to marry his beloved upon his return. However, the ship was captured during the journey, and Joyce was sold into slavery to a jeweler in Algeria, who taught him the trade. After fourteen years of captivity, Joyce was freed and returned home to marry his beloved, and throughout all that time in captivity, he designed a ring as a symbol of his love for her, the Claddagh ring, unaware that the piece would become the global icon of love that it is today.