Claddagh Cross

The Claddagh Cross is a very Irish cross, worn as jewellery, and similar in appearance to the Celtic Cross. But rather than depicting the Celtic Circle of Everlasting Life, the Claddagh Cross hosts a Claddagh Ring. This ring includes two hands holding a love heart, which is crowned.

One of several stories tells of long ago, young Richard Joyce set sail in his fishing boat from a village near Galway City. A band of Moorish pirates boarded his boat, and on finding only a few fish, decided to abduct Joyce and forced him to join their crew. He ended up as a slave in Algiers where he worked melting down gold plundered by the pirates. Later, his task was to fashion the gold into new medallions and other jewellery, and he developed a skill as a goldsmith.

Eventually, in 1689, he was released and made his way back to Ireland, where he married. Favouring his new skill as a goldsmith over the perils of the sea, Joyce and his wife started business making jewellery, and his specialty was a ring that included a love heart.

And the name of the fishing village? Claddagh.

Although the Claddagh ring has been worn by British royalty, the crown above the heart symbolises loyalty to the lover who gave the Claddagh and not allegiance to the British monarchy. 

If a girl wears a Claddagh ring on the right hand with the crown turned inwards, it means she is waiting for her lover to make himself known. When he does this, and while she's considering her own feelings toward him, she turns the ring so that the heart faces outwards. When she is ready for the relationship to advance further, she wears the ring on her left hand. In Ireland, engagement or wedding rings sometimes have the Claddagh design.

When combined with a cross, the Claddagh ring has the additional meaning that the couples' love is based on their Christian faith.