The Love Story of Richard Joyce( the creator of the Claddagh)

Hands

for FRIENDSHIP!

A Crown

The Heart

for LOVE!

for LOYALTY!

Richard Joyce: an Irish man a week from being wed went fishing where he always did the boat capsized and he was captured by by pirates and taken away to a land far away South Africa to be sold as a slave. every day he sweated and worked for years till' the it came he could escape He went back to his homeland to find his Bride......

His Bride: She never wed. Never found another man. Her love, her chaste, her loyalty belong to Richard Joyce and he alone. She gave him his heart to keep it safe and loved forever! By the sea day by day she waited there for years and years till' he came home found her waiting( for him) Her love so pure they finally wed and for her he made a gift A ring to show his how touched his heart is With...... Hands for her friendship A crown for her loyalty and A heart for her love!

Today: We wear the Claddagh with the Heart facing the world if we're open to love. We wear it facing inward to show if we've already found love. The history of this ring we wear has been lost when it's such a beautiful hisorty. A legend, if you will. so touching, don't you agree? To be loved so much. Cherished like that. Loved like that, so pure! So true! Stands the test of time, and seperation( with no ways of communication) She waited. He came back to her.