The Celtic Necklace Blog

The Claddagh symbol is not just for rings anymore!  A beautiful Claddagh charm is something every Irish girl would love to have for her Celtic necklace.

Just what lies behind this Celtic symbol?  You all know the Claddagh symbol - A heart being held by two hands with a crown over the heart.  Each piece of this symbol has its own special meaning:

The Heart:  Love

The Hands: Friendship and Togetherness

The Crown: Loyalty

There is an old Irish tradition that goes along with this ring.  Wear it with the heart pointing away from the body and that means its wearer is “single - available”.  Point the heart towards the body and that means the wearer is “taken, engaged, or married”.

The origin of the Claddagh ring is said to have started with Richard Joyce, a native of Galway.  It is believed that Joyce was captured at sea and sold into slavery.  While he was in Algiers he learned the trade from his master.  The ring was created by Joyce for the love he left behind in Ireland.  Joyce was released from slavery when William III demanded the Moors release all British prisoners.  It is said that he presented his love with the ring upon his return to Ireland.

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I know this image is a bit hard to see.  However, I love the Celtic necklace itself so much that I thought I would share it with all of you. 

While doing some research on the Claddagh symbol, I came across the noted Galway jewelry store of Thomas Dillon.  It seems that Thomas Dillon is the only jewelry maker that is permitted to stamp their Claddagh rings as “original”, since they are the original manufacturer of this ring.

In my Thomas Dillon search, I decided to take a look a their necklaces.  What I found was so unique that I just had to pass it on.  Again, sorry for the terrible picture but it was this bad starting out at the Thomas Dillon website!  Use your imagination and you will see…

This Celtic Necklace was created after 9/11.  Created to commemorate the friendship between the Irish and the Americans, it joins the Claddagh symbol with the American Flag.  The American flag extends up through the middle of the ring that has the Claddagh hands and heart at the bottom.  I must say that this is The perfect gift for any Irish American girl!

Technorati Tags: celtic necklace, claddagh, Irish jewelry