Legend of the Claddagh Ring
Called a museum but mostly a marketing exercise. The Claddagh Ring is a style of mani in fede finger ring: two hands join to clasp a heart. It's been a design for wedding or engagement rings since medieval times but became a Galway tradition from 1700, when the jewellers worked near an Claddagh, the city shore. It became popular from the late 20th century, and legends were embellished around it as ingeniously as its designs. This museum hews to the "Joyce" legend, after the man captured by Algerian corsairs and learning the design in captivity; he returned to Galway where of course his sweetheart had remained true... aah, bless. The heart is often surmounted by a crown, or isn't, depending on your allegiances in that matter.
- Address
- 26 Shop Street H91 E653
- Getting there
- south side of St Nicholas
- Hours
- Mon–Sat 9AM–6PM, Sun 11AM–6PM
- Price
- Free (no, not the rings)
Listing from Wikivoyage: Galway, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.