Token of love - a photo on Flickriver

Token of love

            Shop sign of a Claddagh ring jeweller’s shop at High Street in the Latin Quarter of Galway City, County Galway, Ireland

Some background information:

The Claddagh ring is a traditional Irish ring. Its heart represents love, its crown stands for loyalty, and ist two clasped hands symbolize friendship. The design and customs associated with it originated in Claddagh, a small fishing village and district of Galway City. Its modern form was first produced in the 17th century. The ring is usually made of gold or silver. The traditional type doesn’t include a gem, but in the case of some contemporary ones the heart consists of or includes a gem.

There are many legends about the origins of the ring, particularly concerning Richard Joyce, a silversmith from Galway, who is said to have invented the Claddagh design as we know it. Another early designer of Claddagh rings was Bartholomew Fallon, who made Claddagh rings until circa 1700. His are among the oldest surviving examples of the Claddagh ring, in many cases bearing his signature.

An account written in 1906 by William Dillon, a Galway jeweller, claimed that the "Claddagh" ring was worn in the Aran Isles, Connemara and beyond. Knowledge of the ring and its customs spread within Ireland and Britain during the Victorian period, and this is when its name became established.

While Claddagh rings are sometimes used as friendship rings, they are most commonly used as engagement and wedding rings. Mothers sometimes give these rings to their daughters when they come of age. There are several mottos and wishes associated with the ring, such as: "Let love and friendship reign." In Ireland, the United States, Canada, and other parts of the Irish diaspora, the Claddagh is sometimes handed down mother-to-eldest daughter or grandmother-to-granddaughter.

According to the Irish author Colin Murphy, a Claddagh ring is traditionally worn with the intention of conveying the wearer's relationship status: On the right hand with the point of the heart toward the fingertips: the wearer is single and might be looking for love. On the right hand with the point of the heart toward the wrist: the wearer is in a relationship and someone "has captured her heart". On the left ring finger with the point of the heart toward the fingertips: the wearer is engaged. And finally on the left ring finger with the point of the heart toward the wrist: the wearer is married.

Galway is a city in the West of Ireland, in the province of Connacht, one of the four historic provinces of Ireland. It is also the county town of County Galway. Galway City lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. With a population of roughly 86,000, it is the most populous settlement in Connacht, the fifth most populous city on the island of Ireland and the fourth most populous in the Republic of Ireland.

Today, Galway has a strong local economy with complementary business sectors, including manufacturing industry, tourism, retail and distribution, education, healthcare and services that include financial, construction, cultural, and professional. But Galway is also a renowned university city. There are two university campuses located in the city, the University of Galway and the Atlantic Technological University, and the city is popular among students from home and abroad.

Taken in: Ireland / Connaught / Galway (show map)

Taken on: September 6, 2022

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Europe

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Claddagh Ring

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Latin Quarter

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2022 « less

Sets appears in: • Ireland 2022 • Signs of pubs, restaurants, shops, museums etc.

Groups appears in: • Ireland • European Vacation more » • Sign City • Sign, sign, everywhere a sign.... • Irish moments • IRELAND TODAY • Treasure of Ireland • ...finding ireland... • Zunftzeichen + Werbeschilder • Strictly GeoTagged (no 30/60 limit) • The concept is Europe • Ireland - Country wide shots. • Sign of the Times (All Types of Signs) « less

Camera: Canon EOS 77D, f/11.0, 1/160 sec, 50mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 77D
Lens:	TAMRON 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD B028
Aperture:	f/11.0
Exposure Time:	0.006 sec (1/160)
Focal Length:	50mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	On, Fired
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CS6 (Windows)
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