THE CLADDAGH STORY
The appearance of Claddagh rings on the fingers of Hollywood celebrities such as the actress Julia Roberts has put the spotlight firmly on a very old and traditional jewellery piece. The term Claddagh (pronounced cladda) takes its name from a fishing village in Galway, on the west coast of Ireland where the distinctive Claddagh jewellery design of two hands clasping a heart, topped with a crown, is believed to have been first made.

One of the most common legends surrounding the origins of the Claddagh concerns a local boy called Richard Joyce who was reportedly kidnapped by Algerian pirates while en route to the West Indies from Galway, Joyce as the story goes, was sold to Moorish goldsmiths who taught them their trade. When he was released sometime in the 1690s he returned to Galway where he proceeded to establish himself as a goldsmith and is credited with designing the well-known Claddagh emblem.

Today the Claddagh design has evolved from the realm of rings to bracelets, brooches and even appears on the faces of watches. Increasingly, the design is being more fluidly interpreted by jewellery manufacturers and Claddagh jewellery has become very versatile, appearing more often with the added touch of precious stones and diamonds.