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Betrothal and Wedding Rings: Claddugh

The clasped hands (originating from the ancient Romans), adopted on the gemmel-rings, we are told in Charmbers's 'Book of Days,' are still the fashion, and in constant use in that curious local community of fishermen inhabiting the Claddugh at Galway on the western coast. They number with their families between five and six thousand, and are particularly exclusive in their tastes and habits; rarely intermarrying with others than their own people. The wedding-ring is an heirloom in the family; it is regularly transferred from the mother to the daughter who is first married, and so passes to her descendants. Many of these gemmel-rings, still worn there, are very old. 'Claddugh' ring.

Mr. Mackenzie E. C. Walcot, F.S.A., etc., in 'Notes and Queries,' writes: 'A ring of gold, about the time of the thirteenth century, was found at Burbage, near Marlborough, and, apparently, from the clasped hands on the lower side, a gemmel or betrothal ring, has a sapphire uncut, held by four bent cramps, and on the circle the following letters in two lines, divided by punctuation in the form of x. The letters, of course, are of the period :- VA NI W