Claddagh is an ancient fishing village, now an integral part of Galway City, Ireland. It lies just where the River Corrib meets Galway Bay. Its name comes from the Irish Gaelic “Cladach”, meaning “the shore”. Although there’s nothing left of the old fishermen’s cottages that were built there, there are still many legends and traditions around Claddagh, including the famous Claddagh ring, a typical piece of Irish jewelry, which is said to have been invented there…

History of Claddagh

Despite its proximity to the city of Galway, Claddagh remained a completely separate entity for centuries due to the defensive wall surrounding Galway. This helped to maintain a clear separation between the village and the city on the other side of the river.

In those days, the men of Claddagh were traditionally fishermen, while the women looked after the home. With exclusive rights to fish in Galway Bay, the village’s fishermen prospered for many years, bringing their fresh fish to the Galway markets.

In fact, it’s thought that in the early 19th century, there were as many as 820 fishermen in the village, operating around 80 boats (the famous Galway Hookers, the town’s traditional boats).

The village’s inhabitants were known throughout the rest of the island of Ireland as an area particularly attached to its customs and traditions. They mainly spoke Gaelic, wore their famous “Claddagh ring”, and paid homage to Irish culture on a daily basis.

Claddagh’s decline

Unfortunately, Claddagh’s population gradually declined. Strongly entrenched in custom and tradition, the village witnessed a flight of younger people in search of modernity to Galway and neighboring towns.

What’s more, the village suffered a fatal tuberculosis epidemic in 1927. This led to a sharp fall in the population and the destruction of the village’s dwellings, which were deemed unsanitary. The last dwellings were demolished in 1934, before modern, comfortable housing was built.

Since then, Claddagh has been “swallowed up” by Galway, and has become a sort of large district/village. Much appreciated, it has become a popular area of the city, and is one of the tourist spots where travelers can buy the famous Claddagh ring, a ring created by Richard Joyce, and which he is said to have designed for his beloved… (See here to discover the legend surrounding this jewel).