Tag Archives: Irish folklore

Claddagh ring

Age: 22

“I am white, specifically mostly Irish and Italian, and this story particularly has to do with the west coast of Ireland. Basically, in the west coast of Ireland, and specifically in the city of Galway- I don’t even think tradition is quite the right word, but there is a symbolic gesture, that goes along with a like very specific object. it’s called a Claddagh ring. The Claddagh symbol is a heart being held on either side by 2 hands with a crown on top of it. I’m fairly sure that it originates from the city of Galway, if not, just the west coast of Ireland. Um, but it, historically symbolizes love, loyalty and friendship, not necessarily to like a crown of any sort. It doesn’t maintain that sort of, like, colonial affiliation with England in any sort of way, but that’s what the symbol, like, visually looks like. Traditionally within Irish culture and something that the Irish friends in my life also very much observe and believe in: You cannot give one to yourself- or you can’t buy one for yourself. It’s considered bad luck to purchase that for yourself. It has to be given to you. I think that that has some kind of cool relation to the way that the Irish language thinks about possession and ownership. There’s actually no way to say that something is yours in the Irish language. You just say that something is on you or with you or near you. I think that’s a pattern in a lot of different native languages too, that that idea of possession actually can’t be directly expressed in the language. I think that that’s kind of an interesting reflection in an important tradition. sometimes Claddaghs are worn as wedding rings, not all the time. There’s also a little bit of I think slightly more modern folklore or like tradition around wearing Claddagh rings, which is that, no matter what finger you’re wearing it on, if you flip the ring around so the heart is like facing away from you, that usually means that you’re single or like that your heart is open. Then if you flip it the other way, it means that you’re married or taken.”

Context: The informant studied abroad for a semester in a university in Galway, which is a city in the Republic of Ireland. They have Irish ancestry and wanted to study abroad in Ireland specifically to get more in touch with their Irish roots. They made many friends during their semester abroad and learned many folkloric traditions that their Irish friends taught them. They were gifted a Claddagh on their last day in Ireland by a group of friends before returning home to the United States, where they currently live and grew up.

Analysis: The ring itself is socially assigned meaning, and symbolizes social status such as being “taken” or “single”. I think the custom that it should not be bought for yourself is really interesting, and its association with bad luck reinforces social bonds. Like many other folklore, this piece of tradition and culture also comes with bad luck consequences if not followed correctly. Since it must be gifted, it gives more meaning when you receive one. The nonverbal communication of one’s relationship status using the heart symbol while wearing the ring creates an esoteric “in” group specifically Irish people who are familiar with the Claddagh ring tradition can recognize. Wearing this ring is also an indication of reinforcement of Irish culture or status.


The Fair Folk

Nationality: American
Age: 35
Residence: California
Performance Date: 5/1/2019
Primary Language: English

Context:

The informant is a 35-year-old Caucasian male of Irish and Polish descent. He will be referred to as DB. The Folklore piece came to him from his father’s side of the family which is his Irish side. The story was shared by his grandmother and is told in his own words:

Main Piece:

The Fair Folk (or Fae) were fairytale creatures that lived “under” Ireland in what was known as a Faery Raft. They loved humans, loved tricking them, and loved marrying them or trapping them. If you fell asleep, you could be lulled into the Faery raft. You NEVER ate or drank in the presence of the Fae. If you ate or drank anything from the Raft, you were trapped there for 100 years. Little kids were usually taken because the fae loved them and loved raising them in the raft, and then letting them go hundreds of years later when they got tired of them as children. They also loved wagers, and could be tricked out of things like magic, gold (leprechauns), and favors if you could best them at things. They loved riddles, they were the reason you would lose mittens or socks or your favorite things, and they were most active under a full moon.

Background:

DB was told this story of the Fair Folk by his grandmother who enjoyed telling him these stories when he was a kid. DB finds the story important because he isn’t connected to his Irish roots and this story is a way to stay connected to them as well as to his grandmother. He doesn’t believe in the Fair Folk however, but he feels the tradition of passing on the story is important, and he believes in that.

Notes:

The story of the Fair Folk seems to be a tale told by parents to their children. Like many other creatures in stories shared from other countries, these fairies are known to be tricky or mischievous. The story seems to be a warning to protect themselves from their tricks. They also serve a purpose as an explanation for missing things. When something in one’s home goes missing, this is a way to explain why. People need to have an explanation for things to put them at ease. When something cannot be explained, it creates more questions, so it seems like these creatures are made to explain what can’t be. Talismans made from steel or iron are used to protect against fairies and their negative magic as they are unable to touch or be near these metals.