Claddagh Jewelry
The claddagh ring is traditionally associated with the Galway area and the Aran Islands. The name derives from the now vanished fishing village at the mouth of the River Corrib. Originally worn by men, and later by both sexes as a marriage token, the ring consists of a plain band with two hands holding a crowned heart.
In the Claddagh design, the hands represent both parties, the heart the seat of affection, and the crown perfection. The same elements are often referred to as Love (heart), Friendship (hands) and Loyalty (crown).
Claddagh jewelry is still widely worn by men and women in the west of Ireland, and is becoming more and more popular worldwide as a symbol of love and Irishness.
