Claddagh Rings: A Brief History of The Irish Accessory

By Stephen O'Brien

The Claddagh ring; born from the ‘Fede ring’ (faith) family that dates back to Ancient Rome, the Claddagh ring is distinct in its design of two hands holding a crowned heart. Its origin is often disputed, both popular stories ,however, relate to the Joyce family from Galway. The first story, centered around Margaret Joyce, claims that after marrying the wealthy Spanish merchant, Domingo de Rona, and returning home once he passed, she used her inherited fortune to build bridges between Galway and Sligo. For her charity, an eagle dropped the original ring upon her lap. 

The other, more well-known version, states that Richard Joyce, who had been captured by pirates and sold to a Moorish goldsmith, became trained in the craft. After a demand for release from King William III in 1689, Joyce returned home and brought the Claddagh ring to Galway. This tale is the generally accepted story, due to the lack of fantastical elements, and because the earliest traced rings bear his mark and initials ‘R.I’ (I and J, especially at the start of a word, had an interchangeable relationship up until the 18th century), though other goldsmiths of the time marked similar rings, like Thomas Meade from Kinsale, Co. Cork.

The name Claddagh refers to the ancient fishing village of Claddagh just outside the center of Galway City; Claddagh being an anglicized version of the Irish ‘cladach’, meaning ‘shore’. Claddagh, much like its ring, has a mysterious history also. The people of Claddagh are thought to have originated from ancient Celtic tribes, though may have Spanish origins. Claddagh itself has archaeological artifacts that date back to the Mesolithic period. The most fascinating aspect of Claddagh, however, was its traditional lifestyle being undisturbed by its proximity to Galway City, an area overtaken by the Normans in the invasion of 1169.

The ring itself, though not being connected to Claddagh, was incredibly popular in the area. The ring earned the name, albeit unintentionally, in the 19th century through the writers Anna and Samuel Hall. Their multi-volume Ireland: It’s Scenery, Character, etc. was a study aimed for the English reader, and the ring (which they named ‘the Galway ring’) was mentioned during their description of Claddagh, an eccentric and idiosyncratic place for the English. The village became an oddity of note, with the ring becoming a symbol of both Claddagh and the romantic version of Ireland that sadly did not exist during the Great Famine. Thomas Crofton Croker, an antiquary from Cork during this time, was one of the Halls’ experts, with them using his Claddagh ring illustration; this illustration was reused by William Jones in 1870 for his book, Finger Ring Lore, where he labeled it ’The Claddagh Ring’.

The way the wearer displays the ring is important: The heart pointing outwards on the left hand means you are engaged, whilst on the right means single. Conversely, having the heart point inwards on the left means you are married, and the right means someone has ‘captured your heart’, so to say. The ring has been seen on countless figures throughout modern history; multiple US Presidents, after visits to Ireland, received and sported them; Clinton, Reagan and Kennedy. Walt Disney wore one after visiting Ireland, with his Partners Statue in Disney World also wearing  one (though the ring was incorrectly placed; he was married, but his ring faced outwards). Many famous Hollywood actors, like Maureen O’Hara, John Wayne, and Mia Farrow have worn Claddagh rings. Even Angel, in the 90’s tv show Buffy The Vampire Slayer, gave Buffy one!