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- View offers and deals nearby you
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- Local weather warnings and useful travel information
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Tell us when you are going to be travelling Ireland, and we will show you tailored recommendations for the duration of your trip.
- Tips for events happening during your stay
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Reset your Board
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Ireland’s Claddagh ring
With its focus on love and loyalty, the Claddagh ring is an ever-popular choice as an engagement or wedding ring but many wear it as a statement piece or a sign of their Irish heritage.
This traditional piece of jewellery originated from the small fishing village of The Claddagh, just outside Galway city. Its iconic design features two hands holding a crowned heart, and for an explanation of what those symbols mean, you needn’t look further than the plaque outside the home of the original Claddagh ring in Galway city, Thomas Dillon’s Claddagh Gold:
“The Hands are for Friendship
The Heart is for Love,
And Loyalty is Shown
With the Crown up above”
Oldest known Claddagh ring at the Galway City Museum
© Galway City Museum
As with so many things in Ireland, the origin of the Claddagh ring is the subject of conflicting stories.
The first tale features Margaret Joyce; the widow of a rich Spaniard who used her fortune to carry out good works and help the poor of her native Galway. As a reward for her generosity, an eagle dropped the very first Claddagh ring right into her lap.
The second story is more rooted in history but is no less extraordinary. A young Galway man, Richard Joyce, was captured by pirates while en route to the West Indies in the 17th century. Sold as a slave to a goldsmith in North Africa, he learned this trade and became a talented craftsman. When he was finally granted his freedom, he brought his skills home with him to Galway where he created the first Claddagh ring as a gift for his sweetheart with whom he was happily reunited.
Thomas Dillion's Claddagh Gold, Galway city
The Claddagh ring is loaded with symbolism, so you might want to avoid sending out the wrong signals. Wear it with the point of the heart facing outward to show that your heart is open. Wear it the opposite way with the heart turned inwards to show that your heart is joined with another. Of course, it’s also just a beautiful piece of jewellery that you can wear any way you want!
Claddagh ring workshop, Silver Works, Dublin
© Silver Works
The home of the Claddagh ring, Thomas Dillon’s Claddagh Gold, has been open for business since 1750 and is the original manufacturer of the ring. Located in the heart of Galway city, it has attracted many famous customers throughout the years, including Walt Disney, Winston Churchill and Princess Grace of Monaco. There’s also a museum on the premises where you can learn about the ring-making process and see curiosities such as the smallest Claddagh ring, which sits on top of a tailor’s pin.
The oldest known Claddagh ring can be found in the Galway City Museum, and was made by none other than Richard Joyce. Dating from around 1700, it is one of the few rings that survive from that time. The museum is a must-see if you’re visiting Galway, with artefacts that trace the city’s history from prehistoric times to the 20th century.
Finally, you can own the most personalised Claddagh ring on the island of Ireland by making it yourself at a Silver Works Claddagh ring workshop in Dublin city. It takes just two hours to craft your own sterling silver Claddagh ring and it’s the perfect experience to fit into your Dublin city itinerary.
