Claddagh jewelry bridges the time between friendship bracelets and engagement rings. The symbol –– two hands holding a crowned heart–signifies friendship, love and loyalty in relationships. However, the deeper meaning of these rings lies in how they are worn.
Wearing a Claddagh ring on the left hand with the heart turned outward implies engagement, while an inward heart implies marriage. If the ring is worn on the right hand facing outward it implies that the wearer is single, while facing inward implies that they are in a committed relationship.
The Irish Folklore
These relationship status indicators stem from the ring’s history as an honored Irish tradition. Rumors of the ring’s origin are rooted in Galway, known for its stony beaches, or Cladachs.
Off one of these shores a fisherman, Richard Joyce, was abducted by pirates and brought to Africa to work for a goldsmith. Each day in captivity, he took a small piece of gold from the merchant’s storage to craft the first Claddagh ring. In this disparaging time, his ring encompassed the hope that his loved ones would remain loyal to him while he was away. When he returned to Ireland, Joyce gave the ring to his sweetheart who fulfilled his hopes by wearing it for the rest of her life.
An alternate origin story involves the inheritance of Margaret Joyce. Suddenly widowed and endowed with wealth, Margaret chose to invest in building the bridges of Sligo and Galway. It is said that, as a reward for her good deed, an eagle dropped the first Claddagh ring in her lap.
Heirlooms of Love
Like these stories, Claddagh rings are passed down through generations, often from mother to daughter. This is such a time-honored tradition that buying the ring for yourself is considered bad luck. Rosey Smith, a Penn State junior, found her mother’s old ring in a jewelry box and now wears it because
“I think it’s sweet to have something of hers, especially something that symbolizes love and friendship.”
When glancing down at one’s hand, these rings can serve as a wonderful reminder of a beloved someone or somewhere.
The Claddagh ring, however, also serves as a reminder of relationship status. Aiming to avoid the ‘what are we’ question, younger generations are moving away from society’s typical relationship towards what they’ve dubbed the ‘situationship.’
This rejects the traditional monogamous relationship in favor of blurred boundaries. Without the set guidelines that previously guided mutual understanding in relationships, how will we wear our rings?
Do you wear Claddagh jewelry? Share a picture of your ring with VALLEY on Instagram or X @valleymag!
