The Legend Of The Claddagh Ring, One Of Ireland's Most Notable Symbols

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Hello, again!

So, in light of the impending holiday, I thought that I would share another treasured legend in Irish history. The legend of the Claddagh Ring. It is a romantic tale of a man captured by pirates, who returns home to find that his love had been true to him, all along...

In the ancient Irish village of Claddagh lived a group of simple Irish people. One fine, soft day, when going down to fish, as so many men had done, several members of the Joyce family had found themselves faced with one of the expected dangers of the sea. Pirates...

Captured, and taken far from their homeland by the Spanish ship, the brave men found themselves in the Northern Coast of Africa. In this place, lost and alone, they were sold into slavery by their captors. Most likely to spend the rest of their days, as slaves.

(Photo Credit Issued to Irelandcalling.com)

The youngest of the men, Richard, had truly been tortured the most by this experience. For he had just met his true love, and feared in his heart that he would never again see her...

Years passed them by, and many of the men had passed on, while others had accepted that thwy would never see home, again. Though, not Richard. He worked hard and held onto the hope that he would see his beloved, again. He even would take a tiny bit of gold from the fires he tended for his master and each day, stored them safely away. Until, many years later, he managed to create a golden ring. One which he would present to his love, if and when he returned home.

(Photo credit issued to JMH Irish jewelry on Facebook)

It has never been told if Richard had escaped from slavery or had been released. Either way, he had finally returned to Ireland and to the remainder of his family. And, to his greatest joy, his true love had never given up the hope that he would someday come back to her.

She had waited all of those years for his triumphant return. The beautiful symbol of the Claddagh forever memorialized by his loving spirit. The crown professing his unwavering loyalty, the hands a strong bond of friendship and the heart holding the love that lead him to create the treasured ring which he presented to his love upon his return.

Now, this beautiful ring is worn by so many, passed down from mother to daughter. Even given from a man to a woman as a symbol of engagement.

Some women hold the belief that the ring if the ring is worn with the heart facing out on her right hand, her heart is open to love. If worn with the heart facing the person, their heart has been given to someone special.

(Photo Credit Issued to https://www.fireandice.com)

If worn on the left hand with the heart facing out, it means the woman is engaged to be married and if the heart faced in, she has already done so.

This bold story just goes to show that distance cannot separate the love between two people. It can just delay it, until two hearts are together again. (@hifromkai)

"Let Love and Friendship reign forever, never to be separated."

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Slaínte! 🍀 💚

(Credit for the tale of the Claddagh given to Richard Joyce, its inspiration, and Irishindeed.com)

[RedRobin]

That's awesome