The Claddagh ring is a traditional Irish ring which represents love, loyalty
and friendship. The hands represent friendship, The heart represents love, and
the crown represents loyalty. The Claddagh ring design and customs associated
with it originated in the Irish fishing village of Claddagh. The Claddagh ring
was first produced sometime in the 17th century.
Claddagh rings belong to a group of European finger rings called fede rings.
The name fede is from the Italian phrase mani in fede, hands joined in faith, or
hands joined in loyalty. The earliest versions date back to Roman times, when
the gesture of clasped hands was a symbol of pledging vows, and they were used
as engagement and wedding rings in medieval and Renaissance Europe as well
