History

• About 400 years ago, a master goldsmith named Richard Joyce, who lived in a village called Claddagh near the Galway Bay, designed the ring that now plays a significant role in Ireland's heritage. The Claddagh ring is an example of a "faith ring," a style that dates back to early Roman times. The two clasped hands are a feature that is common to all faith rings.
  
  

Elements

• Separately, love, friendship and loyalty are powerful human forces. Together, Claddagh ring suggests they form the ideal relationship, establishing a solid bond among the three as represented in the union between a man and a woman. How the Claddagh ring is worn symbolizes the status of a relationship. The position the ring is in, as well as the hand it is on, tells others whether the person is looking for love, is in love or is married.
  
  

Heart Facing Out on Right Hand

• Worn in this manner, with the bottom of the heart pointing toward the tip of the finger, the ring indicates that its owner is open to love and would consider entering into a relationship. In today's language, that would translate into "single and looking."
  
  

Heart Facing In on Right Hand

• When the crown on the heart points toward the tip of the finger, the ring indicates that its owner has found love and has begun a relationship. This significance makes the Claddagh ring popular as an engagement ring. A person wearing the ring this way could also be telling the world that he or she is "single, not looking."
  
  

Heart Facing In on Left Hand

• If the Claddagh ring is worn as an engagement ring, it is moved to the right hand with the crown on the heart pointing toward the tip of the finger once the owner is married, indicating that the joining of two hearts is complete. This is sometimes done at the marriage ceremony itself.