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The Irish Claddagh Ring 
This Irish ring belongs to a broad group of finger rings, called 'Faith Rings' or Fede. It is a particularly distinctive ring in Ireland, with two hands clasping a heart, surmounted by a crown. The origin of Faith Rings could date from Roman times. The motif of the Claddagh ring has been explained in the the phrase or blessing 'Let love and friendship reign'.
The hand signifies faith, the heart signifies love and the crown signifies honour, loyalty. Although it was worn as a wedding ring, it was also worn as a symbol of friendship. The limits defined over which the ring was worn was roughly from he Aran Islands and throughout all of Connemara, eastward and Southward for about twelve miles. It probably became known as the Claddagh ring because the people of this area used this ring alone as a wedding ring and it was a tradition to have the ring passed down from generation to generation. When the Claddagh ring is worn on the right hand with the heart nearest the finger nail, it indicates that the wearer in single and unattached. When worn the same way on the left hand, indicates that although the person is still single their heart belongs to another. When the ring was worn with the crown nearest the finger nail on the left hand, the wearer was married. Tradition tells us that the Claddagh ring was passed from mother to first daughter. For some of the Claddagh fisher folk the purchase of this ring was often the largest investment they would make. (Claddagh Ring Story. Joyce, C. 1990, pp 1, 2, 6,7) |
