Irish Claddagh Ring Review

Overall 5.00 of 5 (by 1 user)

LadyMagic
Shirley, NY

I love my beautiful Irish Claddagh engagement ring & its story.

classic, practical, quality conscious, Appreciates tradition, noticing the details, appreciates beauty

Pros

Beautiful tradition of Ireland., Beautiful engagement ring.

MAR

2008

I love my beautiful Irish Claddagh engagement ring from Ireland. It's as beautiful now as it was when Kevin my fiance/life partnergave it to me a few years ago.

This ring symbolzes so much. It represents our engagement, part of my ancestry, an Irish tradition, and the story of the man who designed it.

The ring is two hands holding a heart with a crown above the heart. The hands are a symbol of friendship, the heart - love and the crown fidelty. On my Claddagh the heart is a purple amethyst and the crown has marcasites on it. so do the wrist cuffs alongside the hands.

I admire and respect the tradition of Ireland concerning the Claddagh. In some families, many mothers give it to their daughters, many couples exchange Claddaghs. Some men present as a promise ring.

If the woman is single the Claddagh is worn on the ring finger of the right hand with the point of the heart facing outward, away from her. This shows her heart belongs to no one and she is available. If she becomes involved in a friendship leading to marriage or a young man gives it to her it is with that intention, it is used as a pre-engagement ring, a promise ring. The point of the ring's heart should point to the heart of the person wearing it to show her heart is promised to someone. If engaged, the Claddagh is worn on the left ring finger with the heart pointing to the wearer's heart. This shows the person's heart belongs to someone. It's worn the same way when the person marries.

The story of how the Claddagh came to be is also special. Richard Joyce lived in a small fishing village called Claddagh, just outside the town wall of Galway in the early sixteenth century. The week he was to be married his fishing boat was captured by pirates. He and the rest of the crew were sold as slaves. He was sold on the northern coast of Africa - far from his beloved home Ireland and the woman he deeply loved.

He was taught goldsmithing. It turned out, he was a talented artist. He designed a beautiful ring depicting his hands holding the heart of his lady and a crown atop the heart.It symbolized friendship, love and fidelity. He held on to it waiting for the dayhe could return home to his fiance. After eight years, his owner released him hoping Richard would marry his daughter since he loved him as a son. Richard wanted only to return to his two loves Ireland and his fiance.He was given a small ship and provisions. When Richard finally arrived in Claddagh he rejoiced to find that the woman he missed had been faithfully waiting for him all those years. He gave her the Claddagh and were married. They were happily married for the rest of their lives.

When I go through hard times, whatever they are, I look at my Claddagh think of what Richard Joyce and what they went through. I think of my fiance Kevin whom I love completely. It reminds me of Kevin's love, our relationship and our commitment to each other and our live together - past, present and future. We can get through anything, the bond is strong.

Whatever I end up owning in life, my Claddagh engagement ring will always be my most cherished possession(along with our futureweddingrings, of course) !!!

Irish Claddagh Ring is recommended by LadyMagic

Review inappropriate? Copyright violation?

add LadyMagic to my friends list add to my favorites subscribe to feed

Search Amazon.com for Irish Claddagh Ring prices

Comments about LadyMagic’s Review

In response to TaraLee's comment from Nov 23, 2008 at 12:01AM:

Oh thank you. Glad youWe've been together years. He's actually my life partner who I happen to be engaged to. We're like an old married couple and introduce ourselves as husband and wife. We are - except for a piece of paper. (which we will still be getting) I hope one day Steve gives you a Claddagh. Many blessings.

I love the story and congratulations on your engagement. My life partner Steve is also Irish, and his wedding ring was a Claddagh, I am a little sad that I cant give him one if we get married, because I don't want to remind him of his first wife. But I would happily wear one.

In response to Freezergal47's comment from Oct 6, 2008 at 7:51AM:

Thank you very much. I'm glad you like it.

In response to Katrena's comment from Oct 21, 2008 at 4:32PM:

Thank you. It's my favorite of my reviews. : )

Very interesting review!

Very nice story *smile*

Sorry if I bombarded you with questions just curious. Very interesting ..... in America many bloodlines are mixed. In some ways they are not lost because special understandings have been gained. : ) Be proud of both!!!! My great grandfather, on my mother's side, was an Irish immigrant in the 1840's. He met and married my great grandmother in northern Maine who was supposed to have been Alqonquin. I also have Canadian from both sides.

In response to LadyMagic's comment from Sep 25, 2008 at 10:14PM:

I'm sorry I guess I sort of blundered in the way I formatted my sentence. I was trying to say that to this day I still don't wear my birthtone, the emerald and that my favorite ring is a sapphire and diamond one. No, I never got a Claddagh because I couldn't hold to the Irish tradition except on St. Patrick's Day. Growing up my siblings all had blonde hair and fair complexions. I was the odd ball out--I got all the Indian features and my brothers easily fooled me into believing I was adopted since I didn't look like them. My Daddy was born in Minnesota and then raised in various places in MN and KY. His grandfather was full-blooded Cherokee and married a white American. Daddy always says that is where we lost the bloodline but it is still very distinct in us 2 generations later.

In response to GigiandAdonai's comment from Sep 25, 2008 at 8:18PM:

Why won't you wear an emerald it's a beautiful gem? Malachite is also a lovely green. Is your sapphire and diamond a claddagh? Where was your dad from? Thanks for the info on switching the photo.

In response to LadyMagic's comment from Sep 25, 2008 at 7:46PM:

I have seen the one you made reference to. My birthstone is emerald and my mother being Irish wanted my daddy to give me a Claddagh ring for my 16th birthday. For many reasons--we couldn't afford it, I didn't wear many rings, and I have always been partial to my Native American heritage (I"m Cherokee on my Dad's side) and I was also partial to my mother's birthstone, Sapphire. To this day I won't wear the emerald but love my sapphire and diamond. Once you get a picture of your ring you can submit it to the Help center and ask them to switch the photos. I did the Kraft Mayo review and they did a courtesy picture with Hellmans. I submitted another picture and whala--it was changed out within 48 hours! Yes, the emerald one is beautiful and any lady that receives a ring of that nature should consider herself loved and blessed.

In response to GigiandAdonai's comment from Sep 23, 2008 at 7:25PM:

Different designers have created their version of the claddagh. The one pictured with the review is not my ring. (mine has an amethyst crystal heart - have you seen that kind) Someone from Viewpoints must have placed thoughtfully placed it there. Althoug,h I appreciate it, I will soon submit a photo of the one I wear. We haven't used the webcam yet that's built into our laptop. When I have the photo I'll check with Meredith and/or Jolie to check about switching pics. I will not ever part with this wedding ring. I gave my daughters each a claddagh years ago. Since it is my engagement ring - yes there are definitely wedding bells. : ) We were tempted to wed in Niagara Falls. I will wear my claddagh above my wedding band the way other women wear their diamond ring. Also he is my life partner/significant other and live as man and wife without the piece of paper. (which we are still getting in the near future) Thanks for checking out my review!

Before I even read your review I could already visualize the Claddagh ring because my mother is Irish. Her parents were immigrants from Ireland--came to Wash., DC for the naturalization process and my mother was born in DC. I have seen this design since childhood but never have I heard such a beautiful story about it's origin. It's great that you can cherish that ring because of the symbolic meaning of both the giver and the receiver. I hope some day you will be able to part with it by giving it to your son or daughter. I know it will truly be a family heirloom. So...are there wedding bells???

how beautiful, bryan and I are both very irish and I am fascinated by the history and traditions. Glad you man found just the right ring to appeal to your heart. sounds special

In response to misty23's comment from May 30, 2008 at 7:07AM:

Thanks you so much, Misty. I'm glad you loved it. I keep saying that I'll put the photo up. Well I'm determined to get the photo on either today or tonight. Something keeps coming up everytime I'm going to. Now if I can finish figuring out how to get this built in webcam to work and download I can get going with pics. So stay tuned.... : )

WOW that's an awesome story I loved it ! thank you for sharing now I'm going to have to google the ring to get a better idea of what it looks like but it does sound BEAUTIFUL ! :)

In response to SweetPeach's comment from May 29, 2008 at 8:59AM:

Oh, thank you so much, SweetPeach! I'm touched by your comment. I thought it would be something different to write and people often comment about my ring when we're out. Thanks again.

In response to jasyjen's comment from May 29, 2008 at 2:39PM:

Thank you. Glad you like it. Sometime tomorrow the picture will finally be there. Sounds like your husband's mother has a lovely collection.

It sounds beautiful. My husband is part Irish, and his mother has things with the Claddagh on it around her house.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading your review . Such a heart warming and beautiful story about the Irish Claddagh ring. Thanks for sharing, Most helpful :)

In response to ladym33's comment from May 22, 2008 at 5:53PM:

Your welcome. Glad you liked it. Thanks for your comment.

Sounds very nice. Thank you

In response to LoveisJoy's comment from May 21, 2008 at 12:43PM:

Your welcome. I have always liked the story of the Claddagh. I respect and admire Richard Joyce. I appreciate stories, especialy true stories where love overcomes all. I'm glad Kevin chose a Claddagh. Thank you for your comment.

Beautiful, touching story! I've seen the Claddagh ring but didn't know that it had such a meaningful history. It must be nice to have such a lovely token of love and commitment. Thanks for the review. :)

In response to GeorgeChabot's comment from May 17, 2008 at 10:41AM:

Thank you very much, George. It means a lot.

What a great story! :>

In response to PattyTherre's comment from May 16, 2008 at 3:08PM:

Thank you so much, Patty! I was really hoping you'd like it. Hopefully tonight the photo will be on too. Thanks again!

In response to Kristy's comment from May 16, 2008 at 1:40PM:

Thank you! So glad you liked it! Picture coming soon (Have to read about the webcam again)

Great story. I love these rings.

Wonderful story :-)

In response to CyndiA's comment from May 14, 2008 at 4:02PM:

Thank you, Cyndi. I'm glad you loved it. It means a lot.

Oh. I loved the story. Glad you shared.

In response to Caprig's comment from May 13, 2008 at 6:17PM:

How sweet of you to say so. Thank you very much.

what an interesting review- I am so glad you took the time to write it! :D

In response to dastephan6's comment from May 12, 2008 at 7:28PM:

Thanks. I think the story would make a good movie. I'm surprized no one made it yet. I wish I could be the one to do it. Hmmmm...... I'll let you know when I put the photo on of my ring.