Meaning of a Claddagh Ring

The Claddagh ring, originally a symbol of the town of Claddagh, Galway, Ireland, has been a traditional Irish love token since the 17th Century. It remains popular as a ring exchanged between couples (as an engagement or wedding ring) or between close family members (heirlooms passed from mother to daughter, for example).

Features
A typical Claddagh consists of two hands clasping a crowned heart. Most interpret the hands to signify friendship, the heart to signify love, and the crown as fidelity or loyalty.

History
The history of the Claddagh ring is cloaked in legend. The most popular tells of Richard Joyce, who, in the 17th Century, was kidnapped by pirates. Upon his return home, he presented his still-faithful fiancée a gold Claddagh ring.

Significance
There is a ritual to the wearing of a Claddagh ring---the hand on which it is worn and the position it is oriented signifies a person's romantic state of affairs.

Wearing on the Right Hand
According to most sources, if the ring is worn on the right hand with the crown facing outward, it means that the wearer is seeking true love. When worn on the right hand, with the crown facing the hand, it means the wearer has promised her heart to another.

Wearing on the Left Hand
Worn on the left hand, with the crown facing inward, it means the wearer is engaged or seriously attached. On the left hand with the crown posed outward, it signifies that the wearer is married, or has true love.

Alternative Christian Meanings
There are numerous other legends behind the origin of the Claddagh ring and its meaning. Some attribute the crown to signify the glory of Jesus Christ, crowning love (the heart) and faith (the clasping hands).

Alternative Celtic Meanings
Other symbolism points to ancient Gaelic mythology in which the crown signifies Beathauile (from the Gaelic word beatha, meaning life), the left hand denotes Anu (a Celtic goddess),the right hand represents Dagda (a Celtic god) and the heart represents the hearts of all mankind.

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