The Legend of the Claddagh

            The image I chose is of a claddah ring. The Claddagh is an Irish symbol that depicts two hands holding a heart with a crown on top. They are usually made of gold or silver and many are intricately decorated, often with brightly colored gemstones in the shape of the heart and shining diamonds in the crown. The hands are a symbol of friendship, the heart, a symbol of love, and the crown symbolizes loyalty. When worn on the right hand with the heart pointing out, the wearer of the ring is single. Worn on the right hand with the heart pointing toward the wearer, the ring shows that the wearer is taken. If the heart points out and the ring is worn on the left hand, the wearer is engaged, and when the heart points in on the left hand, the wearer is married.

            The legend of the Claddagh ring begins on the sun-soaked, flat, stony shores of its namesake, a small village named Claddagh, just outside of the City of Galway in Ireland. Cobble-stoned streets run through the village, past many thatched cottages, and to the harbor where fishing boats sit waiting, dawning bright white sails. The men of the village are fishermen who often set off to sea for months at a time. King Vince, known to his subjects as King Vinny, rules Claddagh. He has come to be known as “The Visible King.” King Vinny doesn’t just sit on his green velvet cushioned throne, in his glorious stone castle and ignore the needs of his people. He has dedicated himself to going out into his village and making himself known to his people. Vinny believes that he has to be loyal to his people, if he wants them to be loyal in return.

His son, Eoin, is just becoming of age enough to go visit the people of the village with his father. One day King Vinny and Prince Eoin are out on the docks with a large crowd of citizens bidding farewell to the two dozen men setting off on a long fishing trip. The air is filled with sad sounds of weeping as husbands depart and leave their wives safe on the shore. As the crowd is diminishing and Prince Eoin turns to look away from the ship that is now nothing more than a spec in the distance, his eyes divert his attention to a fair maiden not far from him. She has pure fair skin, light golden-red hair, and lips the color of delicate pink roses. She is the most beautiful being Eoin has ever seen, and he knows he must go introduce himself to her. After they have met, he learns that her name is Katherine, and the two form and inseparable friendship. They spend most of their days together on the shores of Claddagh watching the tides rise and fall.

            Back at home in the castle, King Vinny decides that since Eoin will become king someday soon, he should understand the men of the village and the hard work they perform. Vinny sends the prince off on the next fishing trip leaving the village. The boat is on its way south, around the tip of Africa, when violent pirates destroy it and hold everyone on it captive in a remote place, lost to the rest of the world. He thinks of her frequently, and soon Eoin realizes his love for Katherine because of how much he misses his dear friend. He is taught the trade of goldsmithing by one of his captors. Eoin becomes his slave working long, hard, grueling hours for the pirate. Eoin overhears the pirates talking one evening, and is surprised and to hear news of his release the next day. Feeling relieved Eoin retreats to his bunk to get a good night sleep. During the night a vision comes to Eoin.  While he is dreaming of his dearly missed Katherine, Eoin sees his own hands holding close to him her heart, with his crown resting on top, as if to protect it. When he wakes the next day Eoin is safe in his very own bed as if all that he had experienced was just a terribly bad dream. As soon as he gets up, he goes to the local goldsmith’s shop and makes a ring out of the vision he saw in his sleep the night before. Next, he finds Katherine, who has been faithful to him while he was away. He gives her the ring he has crafted as a symbol of their friendship, love for each other, and their loyalty to each other. Katherine accepts the gift, and the two of them spend the rest of their lives together as the King and Queen of Claddagh.

            The tradition of the Claddagh ring lives on today. The mass exodus from Ireland during the famine of the 1800’s proved to increase the popularity of the Claddagh ring. During this time hundreds of thousands of Irish immigrants fled mostly to America. For many of these families, the only thing of value that they had left was the Claddagh ring. And so the ring became a family heirloom, and a cultural symbol of Irish heritage.  The tradition is for a mother to give her daughter the family Claddagh ring, and the rings can also be given as engagement or wedding rings. My mother gave me the ring I wear now when I was thirteen years old, right after she returned home from her trip to Ireland.