Claddagh Bands – The Most Romantic Wedding Band Tale

The story of the first Claddagh Ring would make a wonderful romance novel or an unforgettable film. It would stand as a testament to the power of love and faithfulness. Why does the Claddagh story remain so meaningful and charming, thousands of years after its first telling? Once you learn more about the crafting of the very first ring, you will be able to understand for yourself. The Claddagh Story: The first Celtic wedding rings and bands were the creation of Richard Joyce, an Irish fisherman who lived during the seventeenth century. He sailed the high seas all over the world, and he was working near Montserrat when his ship was boarded by pirates and raided. Joyce was kidnapped, and taken to a Moorish goldsmith in Algiers, where he was forced to work in slavery. Joyce was soon a highly skilled goldsmith, able to craft delicate objects of beauty out of the precious metal. His skills in the shop were highly prized by his master.

Joyce longed for his native Ireland, and spent years pining for the woman he left behind in the city of Galway. Her name was Margaret, and she was his one true love. When King William III denounced slavery in the West Indies and ordered all citizens of the British Crown being held released, Joyce gained his freedom. The goldsmith did not wish to lose the master metal working skills of his Irish servant, and it is believed that he enticed Joyce to stay, with riches, and even with the offer of his own daughter’s hand in marriage. But Joyce could not be swayed. He blessed King William for granting him his freedom, and he soon sailed for Ireland, with a very special piece of Celtic wedding rings in his pocket. While Joyce had worked in the shop, he had found a way to illustrate his love for Margaret, without saying a word.

For many Irish who left Ireland during Great Famine of the 19th Century, the Claddagh was the only reminder left of their homeland. Rich in Meaning and Significance: But you don’t have to be Irish to appreciate the meaning and beauty of Celtic wedding bands. This traditional Irish wedding ring is now worn all over the world. It has become a fashionable exchange of dear friends and lovers, men and women alike. The meaning of the ring is what gives it significance. The hands, crown and heart symbolize the trinity of Love, Loyalty and Friendship, or in Gaelic, “Gra Dilseacht agus Cairdeas” (pronounced ‘Graw Deel-shocked, ogis Korr-diss’). Put another way: “Let love and friendship reign forever”. It is this rich and beautiful meaning that makes the Claddagh perfect for many occasions, whether it be a gift to a cherished friend of loved one, a Mother’s ring, a Promise ring or worn traditionally as an engagement or wedding ring. Wearing a Claddagh: The Claddagh ring is one of the most elegant and meaningful rings ever created and is beautiful no matter how it is worn. However, if the tradition of the Claddagh is followed, then the way in which the Claddagh is worn declares the wearers relationship status in their quest for love. If worn on the right hand, it is a sign of friendship: with the heart pointed out toward the fingertip, the wearer is free for the courting, their heart open and available; with the heart pointed in toward the wrist, the wearer is spoken for or being courted. But the left hand is the prized position for the Claddagh; worn with the heart facing in toward the wrist, the wearer has found their true love and is engaged or happily married, saying, “With these hands I give you my heart and I crown it with my love.”