A Claddagh ring is a traditional Irish ring showing two hands holding a crowned heart. It is given as a token of love, friendship and loyalty, and the way you wear it, on which hand and with the heart facing in or out, tells people whether you are single, in a relationship, engaged or married.
What is a Claddagh ring?
The Claddagh ring takes its name from the Claddagh, a historic fishing village just outside the old city walls of Galway, on Ireland’s west coast. It is worn as a friendship ring, a promise ring, an engagement ring and a wedding band, and it is one of the best-known symbols of Ireland.
The design belongs to a wider European tradition of “fede” rings, from the Italian mani in fede (hands in faith), which show two clasped hands. The Claddagh version adds the heart and the crown.
What the Claddagh ring means
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| The heart | Love |
| The two hands | Friendship |
| The crown | Loyalty |
Together they are often summed up in a traditional phrase: “With these hands I give you my heart, and I crown it with my love.”
The story behind the Claddagh ring
The design is most often credited to Richard Joyce, a goldsmith from the Claddagh. According to the best-known legend, Joyce was captured by Algerian corsairs in the late 1600s, shortly before he was due to marry, and was sold into slavery. During his years in captivity he learned the goldsmith’s craft. When he was finally freed, he turned down the chance to stay abroad, returned to Galway, found that his sweetheart had waited for him, and gave her the ring he had made.
The oldest known Claddagh rings date from the 1700s, and an early example attributed to Joyce is held by Galway City Museum.
How to wear a Claddagh ring
The meaning depends on two things: which hand you wear it on, and which way the point of the heart faces. “Facing out” means the point of the heart faces your fingertip; “facing in” means it points toward your wrist.
| Your status | Hand | Heart points | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | Right hand | Out, toward the fingertip | Your heart is open to love |
| In a relationship | Right hand | In, toward the wrist | Your heart has been taken |
| Engaged | Left hand, ring finger | Out, toward the fingertip | You are engaged to be married |
| Married | Left hand, ring finger | In, toward the wrist | You are married |
Traditions vary a little from family to family, and many people simply wear a Claddagh ring the way they like it. If you are giving one as a gift, it is worth explaining the tradition so the wearer can choose.
Claddagh rings as engagement rings and wedding bands
Many couples with Irish heritage choose a Claddagh as an engagement ring or wedding band. Common options include a plain gold or silver Claddagh, a diamond or gemstone set in the heart, and Claddagh bands with the design engraved or set into a wedding ring. When the ring is given at the engagement, the heart faces out on the left hand; at the wedding, it is turned to face in.
If you are choosing a matching pair, our guide to the differences between men’s and women’s rings explains sizing and band widths, and our complete guide to engagement rings covers settings and metals.
Buying a Claddagh ring: what to check
- Metal: sterling silver is affordable for everyday wear; gold (yellow, white or rose) lasts longer and suits engagement and wedding rings.
- Hallmark: rings made in Ireland are hallmarked at the Assay Office in Dublin Castle; a hallmark confirms the metal’s purity.
- Size and comfort: the crown and heart sit higher than a plain band, so try the ring on or check the profile before you buy.
- Stones: if the heart is set with a gemstone or birthstone, make sure the setting protects the stone.
Quick answers
Can you buy a Claddagh ring for yourself?
Yes. A popular saying holds that a Claddagh should be given rather than bought for yourself, but this is a superstition, not a rule. Many people buy their own.
Which way should a single person wear a Claddagh ring?
On the right hand, with the point of the heart facing out toward the fingertip.
Which hand does a married person wear a Claddagh ring on?
On the ring finger of the left hand, with the point of the heart facing in toward the wrist.
Sources: The Echo, What does a Claddagh ring symbolise?; Weir & Sons, The story of Claddagh.