If You Are Going to Ireland, You Should Reserve Time to Visit the Claddagh Museum of Galway

If you forget to visit the Claddagh Ring Museum of Galway while in Ireland, you will have missed seeing the original versions of this world-famous ring. These were crafted beginning on the latter half of the 17th century. Today, the ring is made by many jewelers for people coming from all over the world. Galway has expanded to included the village after which the ring was named. Claddagh, formerly a small fishing village, is now the costliest residential neighborhood in the city.

The Claddagh ring was probably a creation of The 17th century jeweler Richard Joyce

Although the evidence regarding the origins of the Claddagh ring are scantly found, what we are sure of is that the initials RJ can be found in many of the oldest rings. Those letters are the initials of Richard Joyce, an Irishman who was captured by pirates and later sold to a wealthy Algerian jeweler as a slave. His master soon saw in Joyce the qualities that make a good jeweler and proceeded to teach him all he knew about jewelry crafting. Having been released from slavery, Joyce returned home to Galway and started his own jewelry-making business there by producing the first known Claddagh jewelry.

The first Claddagh rings may be found in the Claddagh Ring Museum

The works of lewelers Richard Joyce, Nicholas Burge and George Robinson are showcased at Galway’s Museum of Claddagh rings. Within the premises of the museum can be found gift shops where souvenirs of having visited the museum are on sale. In the museum itself, various types of jewelry with Claddagh symbols attached to them are showcased. Guests can also have their own rings custom-made for them.

The Claddagh rings’ increasing popularity

Over the years, the appeal of the Claddagh ring has grown to include no only Irish folks but also people from all over the globe. Hundreds of antique Claddagh rings are being collected by people who are fascinated by its symbolism. More and more people are using them as wedding rings. In most families, these rings have become heirlooms and are often passed on from mother to daughter or from father to son.

The images used in the Claddagh ring

There are three main symbols utilized in a Claddagh ring. The central image is that of the human heart, a representation of the love that is given by the lover to the loved one. After the heart, we find the symbol of the crown which stands for the loyalty of the lover for the loved one. Both heart and crown are held in a pair of hands which symbolize friendship. The three symbols taken as one represent undying friendship or love.

If a person wears the ring on his left hand, he is making known the fact that he is already married or engaged. If a person wears the ring on his right hand, he is saying that he has no emotional involvement if he orients the heart outwards. Otherwise he is saying that he is emotionally involved but that involvement is nothing permanent.
With a keen interest in belts, Jackie Reese researches and writes about wallets and all other types of mens leather belts. Click here for more information about money clips and here for front pocket wallet.