claddagh

[klah-duh]

noun

1. a ring in the form of two hands clasping a crowned heart, given in friendship or love.

Word History and Origins

Origin of claddagh¹

First recorded in 1880–85; named after Claddagh, a fishing village near Galway, Ireland, where the ring was supposedly first designed and made

Example Sentences

A twist of fate would instead see him return home 14 years later, with the smithing skills to craft one of Ireland’s most enduring symbols of love, loyalty, and friendship: the Claddagh ring.

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Named after the small fishing village opposite Galway city, the Claddagh ring depicts two hands clasping a crowned heart.

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The Claddagh ring persists today as both an icon of affection and Irish ancestry.

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Joyce refused and returned to Galway to work as a goldsmith, where he is said to have created the first Claddagh ring.

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Walk around Galway’s crowded quay and you’ll overhear a dozen different stories of the Claddagh ring’s origin.

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