The Claddagh and the Celtic Revival

There is currently a Celtic revival taking place among the young people of Ireland. There is an uptake in people speaking the Irish language, including more Irish artists on their playlists, and some opting for a pint of Guinness rather than a Heineken! One major player in the current Celtic revival is the symbol of the Claddagh.

Traditionally worn as a ring to symbolise your relationship status, the claddagh has taken on a whole new persona in the eyes of young Irish people. You can find Irish women in their twenties wearing oversized claddagh hoop earrings and young men sporting claddagh jerseys. Seen as a way of asserting your ‘Irish-ness’ when out and about, the claddagh has been reclaimed by the young adults of the country and it has taken off with steam.

There is a rich history when it comes to the claddagh symbol and it should not be forgotten in favour of fashion alone. The traditional claddagh ring design is attributed to goldsmith Richard Joyce. Joyce was part of the Tribes of Galway in the 17th century.  While sailing to the West Indies in 1675, Joyce’s ship was captured by Algerian pirates who then held everyone on the ship captive as slaves for the next 14 years. Joyce in a way was fortunate with his captor as he was a goldsmith who kept him as his apprentice and when he was freed by William III in 1689, he could bring back his newfound skills to Galway. Joyce created the claddagh ring we know today after settling near the Claddagh fishing village outside Galway city after he returned from capture. There is some debate as to the true creator of the claddagh ring design as there are not the clearest of records from the 17th century, but the credit is generally attributed to Joyce.

The claddagh ring is part of a group of European rings known as fede. The rings in this group all consist of two hands and are often clasped around each other or in the case of the claddagh, a heart. Fede rings were first used in Ancient Rome but came to prominence in the 12th century. Claddagh rings were initially worn by the ‘Fishing Kings of Claddagh’ and by the 1830s the Claddagh name stuck.

Before social media, claddagh rings were the go-to way for people to let the world know their relationship status. Traditionally, when the ring is worn with the heart facing inwards then the wearer is in a relationship, but when the ring is facing out, it is open to the world and they are single. Today however, the claddagh symbol is worn in many different forms; on scarves and shirts, as earrings and brooches, and even in some cases as tattoos.

In pop culture the claddagh is more common than you may think. In the past, JFK, Ronald Regan, and Bill Clinton could all be found wearing claddagh rings. On the Disney partner’s statue by Blaine Gibson, Walt Disney can be seen wearing a claddagh ring - though it is facing out, suggesting he is single even though he bought it on a trip to Ireland in 1946, with his wife Lillian. In the television series, ‘Buffy the Vampire SLayer’, Buffy’s love interest Angel gifts the title character a claddagh ring and this plays an important part in the plotline of the series.

In this month’s auction, you can join the 2025 Celtic revival with lot 208, a pair of 9ct gold claddagh hoops with an estimate of €125 - 175.

Isobel Morgan BA MA