The History of The Claddagh Ring

The Claddagh Ring originated from a small fishing village, Claddagh, situated just across the River Corrib near Galway City in the west of Ireland. The symbol is heavily associated with one of the tribes of Galway, the Joyces. It is said that Richard Joyce was taken as a slave while he was en route to the West Indies, but was sentenced to be a slave to a Moorish Goldsmith, who trained him. Once released, he returned to Galway, where he established his own business as a goldsmith, creating the Claddagh symbol in the form of gold jewellery. The word ‘Claddagh’ stems from an old Irish word ‘cladach’, meaning ‘shore’, and it is pronounced ‘clah-da.’

What does the Claddagh ring mean?

The Claddagh ring features a heart held by two hands and topped with a crown; the motif for this symbol is explained by the phrase “Let love and friendship reign.” The heart represents love, the hands represent friendship, and the crown represents loyalty. The Claddagh Ring is used to express love in either a platonic or romantic way, ideally given to someone as a gift. Fun Fact: It is deemed bad luck romantically for seven years if you buy your own Claddagh ring; the tradition is that someone you love and who loves you should gift it to you. 

The right hand 

There are multiple ways to wear the Claddagh ring, depending on your relationship status. If you are unmarried but in a relationship, it is worn on the right hand with the tip of the heart turned inwards, indicating your heart is ‘closed off’. If you are single, the tip of the heart is pointed towards the fingernail, indicating your heart is ‘open’. 

The left hand

If the Claddagh Ring is worn on the left hand, with the tip of the heart pointed towards the fingernail, it indicates the wearer is engaged. If the heart is pointed inwards, towards the person, it indicates that they are married.

The Claddagh ring & popular culture

There is only one original Claddagh ring maker left from 1750, Dillon of Galway, which is located in Galway city, near the River Corrib, but there are still many manufacturers all over Ireland and the world making Claddagh rings.

There has been a steady increase in the popularity of Claddagh rings in the last decade, but since 2024, there has been an extensive boom amongst younger generations due to many Irish celebrities such as Nicola Coughlan and Gabriel Byrne wearing their Claddagh rings with pride. This resurgence in popularity is also illustrated on social media platforms such as TikTok, with many discovering the meanings behind the Claddagh ring, bringing the symbol of love and affection back into popular culture conversation. In recent times, many non-Irish celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, Walt Disney, and Jim Morrison have been seen sporting the Claddagh Ring.