The Claddagh Ring

There was a man long ago, in Claddagh, Ireland, who dearly loved a woman. She loved him also. He had a job as a farmer and she was a young lass in her teens. They loved eachother so much that they would sit together at dusk and watch the sun dip below the horizon. They were known around the village as the "couple meant to be". The townspeople thought that these two were truly joined together as a couple meant to be together by God.

One day, a great a tragedy devastated Claddagh. The small town was attacked by greedy pirates. The pirates kidnapped this man and took him prisoner. They sold him into slavery and he remained in bondage for many years. As he would toil and sweat all those years, he would think of his only reason for living, which was to once more see his love again. He would not give up and whimper away when he thought of her curly, vibrant red hair and shamrock green eyes. He would dream about her and think about her everyday.

This man greatly improved his position in the slave owner's household and as a reward, the slave owner granted him his freedom. The man was overjoyed at this and immedietly set sail on the first ship he could find to Ireland. He landed in Ireland, and then trecked over the island to his old home, Claddagh. When he reached it, the townspeople he had known were all but gone and died off, but his love still remained. The minute he saw her, his heart leapt for joy and happiness. He thanked the Lord that he had blessed him with this. He soon found out that she had rejected all suitors, the church's biddings to get married, and pressure from the townspeople to get married to men in the village. She had faith that her true love would not leave her and stayed faithful. She had rejected all for him.

In honor of her faithfulness and his love for her, the man fashioned a ring, which he called the "Claddagh" ring in honor of the town in which he lived. It stands for Loyalty, Love, and Faith. It has been a cherished symbol of Ireland ever since and is traditionally given from a groom to his bride in an Irish wedding.

If you love somebody you will wait for them no matter what. "What God has brought together let no man tear asunder."