On the western shore of the River Corrib estuary lies what was once the ancient Gaelic Claddagh fishing village. The village probably pre-dated the city of Galway itself. In the formative years of the Galway, the people of the Claddagh and the city were mutually dependent. The city exported salted fish, and needed the fishers of the Claddagh to provide the raw material. A bylaw of the city forbade the Claddagh folk to keep a garden, so that they would be fishing as much as possible. Operating from Galway hookers, with their famous black-hulls and rust brown sails, fishing craft, the Claddagh remained as a quaint, Irish-speaking fishing village well into the 20th century. But sadly technology took its toll on the traditional village, with deep-sea trawlers out-competing the skilled Claddagh fishermen. Poverty and emigration took a further toll, and the inland water fishing industry eventually collapsed, along with the way of life the Claddagh represented. In the 1930s, the powers that be decided to demolish the old cottages and replace them with a 1930-style housing estate. Many of the villages traditions died with the modernization.

The Claddagh Ring
One of the traditions that still with us today is the use of Galway’s famous Claddagh ring as a wedding band. There are many stories as to the origins of the ring’s design. The motif, two hands clasping a heart with a crown on top, symbolize friendship, love and loyalty. As legend has it, the tradition was inspired by a Galwegian named Joyce, who was captured while sailing to the West Indies and held as a slave for 14 years. Arriving at Algiers he was purchased by a goldsmith, who took a liking to Joyce. The goldsmith taught Joyce the art at which he became an expert craftsman.

On the accession of William to the throne of England one of his first acts was to send an ambassador to Algiers, to demand the immediate release of all British subjects held as slaves. On his release the goldsmith offered him, should he remain in Algiers, his only daughter in marriage and half his property. Joyce, declined and returned to Galway, where he married and carried on the business of a goldsmith with considerable success.