The Story of the Claddagh Ring

There is in Ireland a place called Claddagh, simply pronounced Klada which nestles in close proximity to the sea and to the university city of Galway. A hardy breed of fisherfolk inhabit this little hamlet, having managed to maintain their odd individuality for many centuries. And when they've had to emigrate, they have always sought their own kin so that excessive use of language is not called for in everyday communication. How is it, then, that a ring - the Claddagh ring - is named after and will always be associated with this once remote and isolated fishing village? A ring so simple in its visual statement that the mere presentation of it to one's beloved takes away all need for words.

The plain gold wedding cingulum indicates an eternity of attachment regardless of exigencies, whereas the Claddagh ring symbolically pledges not only everlasting love, but fealty, loyalty, trust, faith. Its motto, "Let love and friendship reign," is there to see in the sight of a heart being caressed by loving hands, and capstoned by a simple crown.

There are many legends about the origins of the Claddagh ring's design and its Galway associations. It is said that the combination of hands, heart, and crown is the coat of arms of the Joyce family, and the famous James who may not have set foot in Galway did marry a native of the Claddagh region, one Nora Barnacle, thus getting close to his roots. Neither of these lovers were known to possess a ring, but other famous and infamous fools, clowns, hypocrites, and pseudo-Irish have been known to sport this pure symbol of love and friendship.

Queen (we are not amused) Victoria proudly exhibited her ring made in Ireland even as millions of the misfortunate were dying of a man-induced starvation program. Her son Edward VII, it was said, was fond of this ring too. Other people in their millions can't wait to get a finger in their very own rings, particularly as it was bruited about that a bricklayer's daughter, Grace Kelly, who married a gambling casino operator, self-styled Prince Ranier, were showing off their rings to anyone who would look and listen.

Wearing the ring didn't do much for Ronald Reagan, the forgetful president, and history will record the love lives of John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton, who claim Irish heritage and love for the ring and its aura.

There seem to be no demarcation lines between the types of people who buy and wear and give this ring. It's fashionable among liars, loonies, rockers like U2, wild men like Oasis, actresses like Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, and Mia Farrow, and now - get this - the rapper community have seized and are pledging their troth with an exchange of Claddagh rings.

As well as evoking noble sentiments from mature and spiritually exalted human beings, falling in love can also evoke drivel and doggerel from snobbery would-be poets and dreary sentimentality, enough to make a person vomit, and so the Irish do endure the like of Galway Bay and the Old Claddagh Ring because the spirit of the ring makes it easy to forgive these atrocious insults to the Muse.

How the ring came to be a part of our history and lore, our life and love, is something of a mystery well worth exploring. It's a loving look at a loving and universal symbol of the best of the heart, the head, the hands, and the invisible soul of humanity. May your heart be clasped by the hands of your beloved, and may your days be crowned with happiness, and occasional bouts of ecstasy.

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