the claddagh
The Claddagh ring: a heart, a crown and two hands
What the design stands for, where it comes from and how the class builds one.
Book your place at the bench ↗The three parts of the ring
| Part | What it stands for |
|---|---|
| Heart | Love |
| Crown | Loyalty |
| Two clasped hands | Friendship |
The design
The Claddagh is a traditional Irish ring in which two hands hold a heart, usually with a crown above it. Each part carries a meaning, and together they make an emblem of Irish identity.
Where it comes from
Almost certainly the ring began in or near the fishing village of Claddagh in Galway. Galway has made Claddagh rings continuously since at least 1700.
The legends
Several stories explain the origin, and many name Richard Joyce, a Galway silversmith of around 1700, as the man who invented the design.
The oldest rings
The oldest surviving examples are credited to the goldsmith Bartholomew Fallon.
How it is worn
Claddagh rings are used as friendship, engagement and wedding rings. By one custom, the hand and the direction of the heart tell onlookers whether the wearer is single, in a relationship, engaged or married.
Making one in Dublin
In the Claddagh workshop you start with a Claddagh ring strip and turn it, with a goldsmith beside you, into a made-to-measure ring.