To an untrainted ear the words Claddagh Ring can easily seem like some sort of Hebrew reference. Well, actually Claddagh is a village in Ireland. An old magazine describes the population of this village in such words:

"They are an industrious and self-respecting people, those fisher folk, but somewhat as exclusive in their manners as were their old burgher neighbors, who invited no mere Irish within the doors over which were sculptured the trefoils of the Lynches, the chevron of the Frenches, the fret of the Blakes and the squirrels of the Skerretts.
This does not mean that they are inhospitable: the are as courteous as anywhere in Ireland; but for ages they had a king of their own, and they are a people among themselves, whose parents were married for far back generations with the Claddagh ring, bearing two hands grasping a heart, who lived the same, adventurous, sea-defying lives and let the changeful stream of outer events glide all unnoticed by."

It must be added that the Claddagh ring often becomes a family heirloom, and is handed down from mother to daughter. As a result, some women still posses rings that are very old and show traces of an even older design. In past times the villagers of Claddagh were known to acknowledge no other pattern for their wedding rings. The reason behind this probably lies in the fact that fishermen are often superstitions. Claddagh ring is most properly made out of gold. There is a slogan that is often linked with these rings: "Let Love and Friendship Reign".