Subtitle: Ireland's Cherished Symbol of Friendship, Loyalty & Love

A interesting look at the history of the well-known Claddagh ring: where it came from and what it has come to mean today.

Headed out in MaryZee's Biographies of Things box.

This book was set free to find a new reader; I'm so glad you've found it!

Free your books - help spread the words!

I am afraid I don't know much about the Claddagh Ring, but I do recognize McCourt, so out of the box this goes...

Read this for the St Patty Read-a-thon. What's more appropriate than this? And in the book it actually has a few pages' mention of the saint!
Quite an interesting quick read. This is now reserved for the next round of MaryZee's Biographies of Things box.

Putting into bookbox.

taken from the things bookbox, perhaps to be paired up with the Irish challenge in 2014? Adding to the shorter stash of TBRs

from the things bookbox; Unfortunately, I can't say that I learned much new information from this book. The book slightly references how the Roman's didn't conquer Ireland: read How the Irish Saved Civilization for much more info on that. And it weaves in a few bits and pieces of folklore, as it tries to substantiate what the Claddagh Ring is and where it came from.

This will travel forward in the tag game.

A Wishlist book. Enjoy!

If you aren't familiar with Bookcrossing, take a few minutes to check out this very cool site. Bookcrossers LOVE books, and more than anything, they love to read books and then set them free for other people to find and enjoy. I would love it if you would leave a journal entry -- you can say where you found the book or how you liked it when you read it. Then, when you are ready, pass it along for someone else to enjoy! Thanks and happy reading!

Thank you for sending this via the Wishlist-tag game. (Sorry for the late journal; I returned last night from two weeks away). Look forward to reading it!

A short history of the Claddagh ring, from the two main legends explaining its origin, to modern times. It encompasses the manufacture of the ring, the meaning (of course!) , and its relation to similar items from Ancient History. Already a short book, there’s a fair amount of what I’d call “filler”, but it was all quite interesting.

I always wanted a Claddagh ring, but felt like I shouldn’t have one as I’m only 1/8 Irish. So I finally found a small (<1/2”) lapel pin that I sometimes wear on St. Patrick’s Day. But I had friends that wore the ring, and I knew (but had forgotten until the book refreshed my memory) that the way you wear it – heart facing in or out, and even on which hand – has a significance.

I never knew that Claddagh was not just a fishing village, but a kind of an autonomous region, with its own king. Sadly, now the original settlement is gone, but the area remains a popular place to visit.

The discussion of Irish wedding customs, past and present, was fun to read. Some things haven’t changed much, and some come full circle: a return to – or adaptation of – older customs can be found in present-day weddings.

The book opens and closes with mention of 9/11: when people were looking for missing relatives and friends, one rather common distinguishing feature mentioned in the signs they posted was that the loved one had been wearing a Claddagh ring. A New York Times reporter estimated that one in five of the deceased in the towers had some Irish background. And a considerable number of Claddagh rings were found in the ruins.
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Adding to 6of8's Biographies of Things bookbox.

Traveling in 6of8's Biographies of Things bookbox.

I'm claiming this well-traveled book from the Biographies of Things bookbox - should be just the thing for the Irish release challenge!

Later: Not a lot to add to the other comments - I found the 9/11 references to the many Irish-heritage victims (quite a few of them police or firefighters) poignant, and the legends about the origin of the rings rather amusing. I was also enticed into doing some Googling to find images of the oldest known rings - though the results did tend to lead me to jewelry and souvenir shops selling newer ones! My favorite part of the book was about the village and its customs - including the entertaining concept of "Galway hookers", a type of old fishing boat. I also liked the quote from Oscar Wilde's mother's book about charms and superstitions, describing an Irish wedding - though, oddly, it never mentioned rings at all {wry grin}.

I plan to leave this book in or near the Peddler's Daughter Irish pub at around 3:45 or so; hope the finder enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in NH here.]

*** Released for the 2017 Keep Them Moving release challenge. ***

*** Released for the 2017 Oh, the Places We Can Go release challenge. ***

*** Released for the 2017 Celebrate the Irish release challenge. ***