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In the best tradition of Irish folklore, Claddagh history is not merely a collection of facts. Rather, Claddagh history consists of a collection of several different legends.
One legend in Claddagh history tells of Margaret Joyce (no relation to Richard), who married a wealthy Spanish merchant named Domingo de Rona. When her husband died, Margaret inherited de Rona's fortune. Unlike most people, who would fritter away new riches, Joyce instead put them to good work in building bridges and performing many charitable works in Ireland's western counties. To reward her for her extraordinary kindness and generosity, an eagle dropped the original Claddagh Ring into her lap.
Claddagh history merges with tales of the sea in the town of Claddagh, which is said to be one of the oldest fishing villages in Ireland. For centuries, fishermen from the area took to sea with the Claddagh crest on their ships and sails. The crest was used for identification of fishermen from outside the area fishing in their waters were chased away or killed. So the Claddagh ring is also an original symbol of the "Fisher Kings" of the Galway town of Claddagh, Ireland.
The most popular is the story of Richard Joyce and his true love . First told over 300 years ago in the ancient fishing village of the Claddagh, outside the walls of the City of Galway on the west coast of Ireland. Passed down through the generations, this romantic story centres on a man named Richard Joyce and the ring he created. Legend has it that shortly before he was due to be married, a fisherman Richard Joyce was captured at sea by pirates and sold into slavery in Algeria. He became the property of a rich Moorish goldsmith, who sensing his potential began to train him in his craft.
In time Richard Joyce became a fully proficient master craftsman and with thoughts of the girl he had left behind close to his heart, he fashioned the first Claddagh Ring. The heart symbolising love, the pair of hands representing friendship and the crown for loyalty and fidelity. In some stories, Richard freed himself, and returned home to his small village, in others he was freed in 1698 after an agreement with King George III to release all his subjects held in slavery, Richard Joyce found himself once more a free man. His master, who had by now grown very fond of him offered his only daughter in marriage and half his wealth, if he would remain in Algiers, but Joyce declined and returned home to Galway.
There he found that his sweetheart had waited for his return, and presenting her with the Claddagh Ring they were married never to be parted again. .The Claddagh Ring merges the basic 'clasped hand design' of Fede Rings with a heart and a crown to the wish that Love and friendship should reign supreme. The hands signify friendship, the crown loyalty, and the heart love.
These rings were kept with great pride as family heirlooms, which were passed lovingly down from mother to daughter on her wedding day with the saying, "With these hands I give you my heart and I crown it with my love."
The design has now become very popular internationally, its spread being helped by the vast exodus from Ireland during the great famine in 1845-1849. The simplicity of the ring and the symbolism it conveys make it the perfect gift for a friend or loved one. Fede or "Faith rings" date from Roman times and were popular in the middle Ages throughout Europe. They are distinctive in that the bezel is cut or cast to form two clasped hands that symbolise faith and trust. Early examples are on view at the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.
How to wear the Claddagh
During the ceremony Fr. Jack mentioned the symbolism of the claddagh and how it can be worn different ways. He suggested asking the newly weds. According to tradition....
Wear it on the right hand with the heart facing inwards and it shows you have friendship and love under consideration.
But worn on your left hand with the heart turned inwards it means two loves have joined forever.
The above information was found on these webpages.
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