History of the Claddagh Ring

So for those of you wondering, I have researched a little bit into the History of the Claddagh ring after I went and got mine in Galway this weekend. I so wish that I could just copy and paste information that I have found but that would not be very true of my so I am going to give it to you all with my own interpretation and twist.











So the Claddagh ring was supposed to have originated from a small fishing village located in Galway bay, the village was also known as “Claddagh” itself. The Claddagh was not a glorious place to live. The River Corrib separated the village from town and the people were not allowed to use simple tools like spade or hoe. A chosen king ruled Claddagh, and the last known king of Claddagh was the Currans (which is funny because one of the girls, Brianna Curran, who is on my trip has the family name Curran who could have possibly been the king of the town).


The design of the ring is two hands holding a heart that wears a crown. It was supposed to explain the phrase “Let Love and Friendship Reign” but it is also known for the hands as friendship, the heart as love and the crown as loyalty. It was typically used as a wedding ring in the community for over 400 years.










The design is linked to the Joyce family and there are two stories of how the ring was created. Margaret Joyce married Domingo de Rona, a wealthy Spaniard, who left her his fortune when he passed away. It was said that she used her money to build bridges in the province of Connacht and in 1596 she married Oliver Og Ffrench the mayor of Galway. “As legend goes Margaret Joyce was rewarded for her good works and charity by an eagle which dropped a gold ring into her lap, but it would seem that a less fanciful version of the Claddagh Ring’s origin would be found in the story of Richard Joyce or Joyces.


While en route to the West Indies, Richard Joyce was captured by Algerian corsairs and sold as a slave to a Moorish goldsmith who trained him.

Released from slavery in 1689 at the demand of William III of England, Joyce, in spite of substantial inducement to stay, returned to Galway and set up as a goldsmith. His work, marked with an anchor signifying Hope and the initials R.I. still exists. The Claddagh Ring motif is attributed to him.”

Now as far as it was explained to me, the reason Thomas Dillon’s was the first makers of the Claddagh ring is because they were the first to start to produce it. They had gotten control over most of the silver and gold coming into Galway. This limited other companies or families from making the Claddagh rings. Later on, they got the government to sign off that they were the official makers and have since allowed other companies to make replicas, but they are never the same as the actual Thomas Dillon’s original. And on the original it has a stamp “T.D.” and “Original.” Also, something else interesting; the original Claddagh rings made by Thomas Dillon’s will never have stone in them.