claddagh

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.

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

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

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

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