Me Claddagh

Look at the lovely blog pin that Mysterious Lady made for me. I love it!

Isn't she special to do that?? Now go on give her a hug will ya?

It's a claddagh symbol. Click here to or here learn more about the legend or re me paraphrase below:

Richard Joyce was a fisherman who lived in the 1500's in the village of Claddagh near Galway on the West Coast of Ireland. He was captured by Spanish pirates and sold into slavery in Africa where he lived many years and learned to become a goldsmith and eventually made it back to Ireland, to his true love, Margaret, who remained unwed during all this time. He designed the ring for her, for which the heart symbolizes love, the crown symbolizes his undying loyalty and the hands symbolize friendship, the very foundation of love.

The claddagh has special meaning to me for a number of reasons including:
- it's Irish and so am I (by birth to my Irish born mother)
- the claddagh story and meaning (above)
- Richard was my grandfathers name - I have a charcoal portrait of him inherited from my aunt hanging in my hallway. I remember him from when I visited Ireland when I was five years old with my aunt. He was very kind to me and took my around on his shoulders playing horsey which I really enjoyed. He died in 1967 when I was 8.
- Margaret is my mother's name and my middle name. She passed away suddenly last year. I'm very sentimental about all things Irish and about her as I miss her terribly.
- me oldest daughter has worn a claddagh ring for years.
- the region around Galway is one of the places I have visited many times.
- I'm especially intrigued about the fishing villages and islands off the west coast of Ireland. I have been to the Aran Islands twice and have read a great deal about the Blasket Islands off the coast of Dingle (Kerry) and I hope to visit them next time I am there.

I just love how she put the little ICL in the heart!

Now read her 100 things about her linked at right!