The Claddagh Ring Display: Ireland's Cherished Symbol of Friendship, Loyalty, and Love - Hardcover
Bestselling author Malachy McCourt recounts the story of Ireland's timeless symbol of loyalty, friendship, and love, a ring design of two clasped hands that is worn by millions worldwide. Following the success of his Running Press titles Danny Boy and Voices of Ireland, McCourt explores this beloved icon of Irish heritage through vivid anecdotes, charming folk tales, and recent documented incidents. Said to have been first crafted more than 400 years ago in a fishing village on Galway Bay, there is much more to the story of the Claddagh ring than simple popular history, and McCourt tracks it down and recounts it with his stellar storytelling finesse.
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About the Author:
County Limerick native Malachy McCourt is the authority to tell the history of Ireland. He has written several books, including the best-selling A Monk Swimming, Singing My Him Song, Danny Boy, Voices of Ireland, and The Claddagh Ring. Complementing his literary work, McCourt is also a skilled actor. He appeared in the television series Oz and in feature films such as The Bonfire of the Vanities. He lives in New York City.
From Publishers Weekly:
The titular bauble-a pair of hands clasping a crowned heart with the motto "Let love and friendship reign"-is a traditional Irish emblem passed from mothers to daughters and granddaughters, exchanged by betrothed couples or given to friends, and worn by Queen Victoria, Jennifer Aniston and the rock band U2. McCourt (Danny Boy) is wary of the subject's potential to evoke "dreary sentimentality, enough to make a person vomit," but he steadies himself and gives a pleasant rundown of associated lore-a classic Irish mixture of improbable legend and historical tragedy. Drawing on scholarly and literary accounts, he explores the history and eccentric folkways of the fishing village of Claddagh, whose taciturn inhabitants "had long been an enigma, even to the people of Ireland." One origin myth has the prototype ring dropped by an eagle into the lap of a saintly benefactress, and a second says it was forged by a goldsmith for his faithful fiancée after he returned from captivity among Algerian corsairs. Another tale recounts how scores of Claddagh natives pawned the gold rings for passage to America during the potato famine, while modern myth alleges that hundreds of the rings were recovered from the rubble of the World Trade Center, a testament to the heroism of Irish-American firefighters and cops. McCourt traces the development of Celtic jewelry, ponders the symbolism of the ring's motifs and generally celebrates Irish culture with frankness and warmth. Perhaps the most pertinent material to the book's likely female readership is in a long section on traditional Irish wedding rites that is sure to give be-ringed colleens plenty of ideas.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherRunning Press Book Publishers
- ISBN 10 0762416890
- ISBN 13 9780762416899
- BindingHardcover
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