A Little Linen Love at Claddagh Jewellers
There was something rather special about being invited to have our Irish Linen Claddagh decorations hanging in the windows of Claddagh Jewellers, bringing a little linen sparkle to their Christmas tree in 2024.
The shop also stocked our decorations in both its Galway and Dublin stores, so visitors could take home a softer interpretation of this much-loved Irish symbol alongside the beautifully crafted rings that inspired it.
Their Dublin shop is a familiar sight, and I’d love to visit the Galway shop, prominently positioned on the appropriately named Shop Street, with its elaborate wall murals. Alas, I haven’t been back to the city since a trip to the Galway Races in my early twenties, some twenty years ago. A return visit is surely overdue!
A family-run business with roots in the heart of Galway, Claddagh Jewellers creates authentic rings, lovingly handmade by skilled artisans. That care for craftsmanship felt like a lovely connection to our own work, translating the familiar heart, hands and crown into Irish Linen with delicate hand-stitched embellishments.
Each element carries its own meaning: the heart represents love, the crown stands for loyalty and the hands symbolise friendship. In my interpretation, I’ve framed them within a circle of Celtic interlace, with gold metallic embroidery weaving in and out around the border.
The Claddagh holds particularly sweet memories for me. A school friend gave me a ring in my early teens as a gesture of friendship—a lovely reminder that its meaning extends beyond engagements and weddings.
There’s also a little language to how the ring is worn. If you’d like to follow the familiar convention:
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On the right hand, with the heart pointing outwards, away from you: single.
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On the right hand, with the heart pointing inwards, towards you: in a relationship.
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On the left hand, with the heart pointing outwards: engaged.
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On the left hand, with the heart pointing inwards: married.
Of course, it can simply be worn as a treasured gift of friendship or a connection to Irish heritage. Our linen version leaves the question of which way round to wear it entirely out of the equation!
A little celebration of Irish heritage, thoughtful making and the pleasure of giving something meaningful.
You can find our Claddagh decoration here. It won’t be available from us again until 2027, but I’m looking forward to welcoming it back.
Katie xox
