Galway

The oldest Claddagh ring known to exist is set to make its way back to Galway, following a recent purchase by Galway City Museum. The museum will be a fitting home for an artefact that has journeyed across Europe and switched ownership a number of times over the span of 300 years, having more recently been in the possession of the late Irish art collector and Guinness heir Garech Browne. 

<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Dj2RNByTQQxIj0PFm6OUUk9qrDmaUmQb52CUOyJWeqBRy5IT0lrrt2-ekeQwOZLK4w4cKSh85U99aCMrroQuTO3SmLvT611URxDQLwSqB-NG8M0hLOk3w-egeHix_6dtuzZkq2I9" alt="" style="float:none;height: ;width: "/>
The late Irish art collector and Guinness heir Garech Browne. 
Richard Joyce is reported to have crafted this particular ring in and around the year 1700, although he was not the only goldsmith making this variation of the ‘fede’ ring in Galway during this time. Fede rings, which are composed of two hands clasped in a symbol of friendship, were fashionable in the medieval period. 

The Claddagh design, however, of hands, heart and crown is believed to have been the brainchild of Joyce, where the symbols represented friendship (hands), as well as love (heart) and loyalty (crown). 

<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/pZtmfw4mcZxR1tgnjOXaf7pOAe4Gx-B8kjmI6OR6ANWlHcTbWOMRQwGzXb5Ced1bh_Qg8BlZW_PjC533cpagMzacxD_ry5CFMQyfQnwQR96mKylxYwt2zSRF8n6Nt2UGZwRNXTg3" alt="" style="float:none;height: ;width: "/>
16th to 17th Century ‘Fede’ Ring. 
The inscriptions ‘MRC’ and ‘LcM’ can be found on the inside of this ring, however, the presence of initials and age of the piece means it will be difficult to trace it to the original owners. 
The legend goes that Richard Joyce acquired his jewellery-forging skill while slave to a Turkish goldsmith, who had purchased him after he was captured by Algerian pirates during his travel to the West Indies in the late 1600s. Joyce impressed the master with a flair for the craft, and under his tutelage developed a style that led to the creation of the first Claddagh ring. 

<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/9-7cQbDt8njGbFODpJC625UJdcbYygw7TP7gXjgF_px1CGNhdJwzZJRXL2RkHhaiPC1FG_HiD5X5Vv1jatGJOmN7mHIHmhS7stEek6tw1Swo_fQwJ021aFnGCahNyq6xnHeE_qyC" alt="" style="float:none;height: ;width: "/>
17th Century Algerian Pirate Slave Traders. 
Joyce was later released from servitude following an order by King William III. His former master was reportedly so desperate for him to remain that he was prepared to offer the budding goldsmith some property and his daughter’s hand in marriage. Joyce declined and returned to Galway, marrying and settling there. 
The popularity of the Claddagh ring has been described as a relatively new phenomenon, considering that it has been around for over 300 years but did not achieve commercial success until the 19th and 20th centuries. This is due to the fact that up until this point, the Claddagh style had not gained a great deal of exposure beyond the Emerald isles; the Victorian period, however, ushered in a new appreciation and demand for the product, so establishing the brand as we know it. 

<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mumGUYXBV7RqRK3FkWuW4cpKvnga4Kw-ftNkL6jTKS3-Lhv_Su-QE3rofKL2aITSFYo-lIDPN9wNRwGLW85S3y-yAP3Ojo9hQcx9zo-lwIkNobws4QoBaYrY-bzQQqxL8Rwue0Gl" alt="" style="float:none;height: ;width: "/>
Claddagh Ring Varieties. 

Many images, concepts and folktales come to mind when we think of the Claddagh ring. We know the ring itself to be an enduring, quintessentially-Irish symbol of friendship, love and marriage. We can picture window displays full of its many varieties in jewellers all over the city and country, and recall the legends around its creator, who is believed to have been a member of one the most prominent tribes in Galway during the 17th century. 

We have our own stories to tell too of this timeless ring, for those of us who have worn, gifted or longed to have one. Regardless of what crosses our minds, one thing is for sure: Claddagh rings are beloved Galwegian—and global—works of art. 

<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/RYmquBLB_5KOM6dLp8eWr90E3VmuDXN-TkJ7OMrZTw3NSnRoH0QRvqRPBjoICmRtjzioj0Vvg-lKWXjlkS81AwLCKmUNks-NaZceFVOYqwrAbh9-3SmfXJtFVkxXQfhX1KaPv120" alt="" style="float:none;height: ;width: "/>
Galway City Museum - The new home to Richard Joyce's' Claddagh Ring. 
Nestled behind the Spanish Arch and within ancient city walls, Galway City Museum boasts a wide and impressive collection of artefacts and historical documents, dating from the prehistoric times to the 20th century. Situated in one of the oldest parts of the city, and with an extension planned for 2022, this establishment has proved invaluable to the preservation of Galway’s unique and rich history. 

The arrival of the oldest-known Claddagh ring to this museum, which overlooks the area of its namesake, will be a fantastic addition to the showcase of one of Galway’s most prized exports and traditions.

Galway City Museum brings home the oldest-known Claddagh ring

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