Editing Claddagh ring (section)

{{short description|Traditional Irish ring}}
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[[Image:Claddaghring.jpg|thumb|Claddagh ring]]

A '''Claddagh ring''' ({{langx|ga|fáinne an Chladaigh}}) is a traditional Irish ring with three primary features: a heart to represent love, a crown to represent loyalty, and two clasped hands which symbolise friendship.<ref name="Kunz">George Frederick Kunz (1911). ''[https://archive.org/details/ringsforfingerf00kunzgoog Rings for the Finger: From the Earliest Known Times, to the Present, with Full Descriptions of the Origin, Early Making, Materials, the Archaeology, History, for Affection, for Love, for Engagement, for Wedding, Commemorative, Mourning, Etc.]'' Philadelphia; London: J. B. Lippincott Co.</ref><ref name="Jones">William Jones (1877). ''[https://archive.org/details/fingerringlorehi00jonerich Finger Ring Lore: Historical, Legendary, Anecdotal]''. London: Chatto and Windus. {{oclc|181875403}}.</ref> The design and customs associated with it originated in [[Claddagh]], [[County Galway]]. Its modern form was first produced in the 17th century.<ref name="Mulveen">Shane Dawson (1994). "Galway Goldsmiths, Their Marks and Ware". ''Journal of the [[Galway Archaeological and Historical Society]]''. {{JSTOR|25535635}}. '''46''':43–64.</ref> Claddagh rings have been used as [[Engagement ring|engagement]] and [[wedding ring]]s in [[Middle Ages|medieval]] and [[Renaissance|Renaissance Europe]]. The oldest surviving examples of the Claddagh ring have been forged by [[Bartholomew Fallon]].