Story behind our designs

Claddagh

Legend has it that the Claddagh symbol was originated by Richard Joyce, a Galway seafarer kidnapped by pirates and sold into slavery in North Africa where he learned the art of a goldsmith. When he was released, nothing could keep him from his beloved Galway where he returned to become a master goldsmith and where he created the Claddagh ring. For centuries this was used as a wedding ring by the fisher folk of Claddagh village, which nestled outside the walls of Galway city in the west of Ireland. Claddagh rings are worn as friendship, engagement or wedding rings depending on how they are worn.

Friendship: by placing the ring anywhere on your right hand.
Engagement: by placing the ring on the third finger of your left hand with the heart pointing outwards.
Wedding: by placing the ring on the third finger of your left hand with the heart pointing inwards towards your heart.


Trinity Knot

Triqueta - predates Christianity and is the the Celtic symbol of Odin, Goddess of the North. Triplicities, Trickle (triple spiral), were common symbols in Celtic myth and legends. Because of this the Triqueta makes an ideal Christian symbol. It is also considered to represent the ‘three in one’ in Christian trinity beliefs, usually relating to the triplicities of mind, body and soul or alternatively; earth, sea and sky.


Celtic Knot and Celtic Cross

Celtic Knot Spirals have been found on ancient art on every continent, usually depicting the Sun. The Celts coming to Ireland would find spirals at Newgrange, carved into stone by Irish farmers, depicting the four journeys of the Sun around the Earth. As they saw it, one stone having a Triskele of Spirals, thought to be a fertility symbol, or a symbol of rebirth as each journey of the Sun would take three months.

The Lover’s Knot design is attributed to sailors and seafarer’s who would weave the knot with two pieces of rope to give to sweethearts as mementos. This same knot was likely to adorn a Celtic Shield, the points of the square, a plea to the God’s of the four corners of the Earth for protection, also called ‘St. Hans Cross’ or ‘The Earth Square’. 

Celtic Cross: Throughout Ireland and Scotland, the Celts crafted these magnificent symbols in stone. Celtic Crosses predate Christianity and were first used by pagans to worship the Sun. In pagan times the circle of the Celtic Cross represented the Sun, being the centre of their lives. It was not until the 4th century AD when it was introduced by the Roman Emperor Constantine, that the Celtic Cross was used to represent Christ’s victory. During the great conversion of many pagans to Christianity, Christian philosophers adapted the Celtic Cross and taught the meaning of the circle to represent Christ, the centre of Christianity.


Ogham

Ogham script is an early form of old Irish, the first known Irish writing. The characters comprise a series of lines and notches that are scored across a long stem-line often on standing stones. In the majority of cases the inscription is read from the bottom up and usually names the person being commemorated along with their ancestors and the carver of the inscription. Over 350 Ogham stones are known, with the majority found in Southern Ireland from Kerry to Waterford and in South Leinster. They also occur in small numbers in western Scotland, the Isle of Man and in Cornwall at Lewannick, where Irish settlers from Munster landed and founded communities. 
While the stones in Ireland are written purely in Ogham, those in Britain often have the Ogham repeated in Latin and carved in Roman characters on the same stone. In legend Ogham was said to have been created by Ogma, the son of An Dagda. Ogma was both a warrior and the God of Eloquence and Literature. He fought the second battle of Magh Tuireadh where he slew the Formorian Indech, son of the Goddess Domnu.


Celtic Warrior Collection

Our Celtic Warrior Collection is inspired by our famous Ardagh Chalice. The Ardagh Chalice is from the 8th century AD and is also one of Ireland’s most prized artifacts. The Chalice is located in the National Museum of Ireland. It’s one of the most important pieces of Celtic art.

It’s from the ornate designs of the Ardagh Chalice that we have created our much loved Celtic Warrior Collection. The gold filigree on the Ardagh Chalice forms the basis of the intricate designs featured on each piece of our Celtic Warrior Collection.

Tree of Life

Many cultures, including the Celts, have a ‘Tree of Life’ or Crann Bethadh (in Gaeilge) concept. In today’s world, you can find the Celtic Tree of Life on a wide range of items; it’s a popular tattoo request, looks excellent on tapestries, and makes a stunning necklace or pendant design, among other things. However, the Tree of Life was a significant symbol for the Celts and other ancient cultures.

Branches that reach out and downward crown the sacred tree’s wide trunk. Its roots and branches are mirror images of each other, giving the motif a sense of balance and harmony. The Tree of Life symbol is, of course, associated with ancient Celtic culture, but also with nature and intergenerational ties. Consequently, different Celtic jewelry can represent the Tree of Life art in many different ways.

Understanding the symbol’s deeper meaning should provide insight into ancient Celtic culture. In this article, we will look at the Celtic Tree of Life to learn more about its meaning and symbolism in the context of the ancient Celts and Druids. We will also explore how other ancient cultures and religions viewed the Tree of Life.

Solstice Collection

Our Winter Solstice Pendant with Swirls and 18k Gold Bead is inspired by the Winter Solstice. The Winter Solstice is a Celtic celebration of the shortest day, and longest night, of the year. It is thought to be a period of quiet energy.

This can allow you to take the chance to reflect on yourself and focus on what you want to achieve.

The Winter Solstice is also a time to set goals and intentions for the coming year, examine and release your past and to make positive personal changes.

Newgrange passage tomb is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for one. It predates both the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt and Stonehenge in Britain.

Every year, many people travel to Newgrange, Co. Meath to view the Winter Solstice through the Newgrange passage tomb. The light from the rising sun, if visible, lights up the inner chamber of the 5,000-year-old passage tomb.  The Newgrange passage tomb was built was built around 3200 BC, during the Neolithic period, making it older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.

The passage grave at Newgrange has stood for 5,000 years and is older even than the Great Pyramids. As the sun rises on the shortest day of the year, a ray of light breaks through a narrow slot at the entrance, illuminating the central chamber at the end of a sixty-foot-long tunnel.

What happens there every year is described as a miracle.

On the 21st of December 1967, Professor O’Kelly rediscovered the winter solstice phenomenon in Newgrange. It was the first winter solstice witnessed at Newgrange by anyone in over 5,000 years.

Arian Collection

Arianrhod was the Goddess of the moon and stars.
She is the Celtic Goddess of “Fertility, Rebirth and the Weaving of Cosmic Time and Fate”.

The name “Arianrhod” is derived from the Welsh arian, “silver,” and rhod, “wheel”.

Her name has been translated as “Silver-Wheel”, a symbol that represents
the ever-turning wheel of the year, a symbol of our own journey each year…



St. Bridget

Along with St. Patrick, St. Bridget is one of Ireland’s most revered saints. Bridget founded a monastery in Co. Kildare in around the year 480 and she is also credited with founding a school of art which included metalwork and illumination.

One of the most commonly told stories about Brigid is of her asking the King of Leinster for land. The king laughed and refused, she smiled and said “will you give me as much land as my cloak will cover”? The king, thinking he would get rid of her, agreed.

The cloak was spread to on the ground facing the four points of the compass and it began to spread and cover the land. In fear of losing all his land the king agreed to give her a descent plot of land and he eventually converted to Christianity.

The cross named after the saint is said to have been made as she visited the deathbed of either her father or a local lord.

Praying beside the bed the floor was strewn with rushes, as was the tradition at the time, and she picked up some rushes and formed the cross.

The St. Bridget’s Cross has four arms tied at the ends of a woven middle square. The crosses are still made today by school children all across Ireland on her feast day, which is February 01.

They are set over doorways and windows to keep homes from harm. It is given as a symbol of protection and love.

Damhsa
Our remarkable range of Dancing Stone pieces includes a diverse choice of splendid styles. Damsha is the Irish word for ”dance”. Each piece in the collection ‘dances’ with movement creating a shimmering display. Choose striking silver Trinity & Claddagh designs that are sure to catch the eye.



Nuada
Part of the Celtic Warrior® Collection, this Sword, Bangle and Ring of Nuada owes its name and design to the legend of King Nuada of Tuatha de Danann (‘the people of the goddess Danu’), the ancestors of the Irish.

Nuada remains a famous figure in Celtic mythology, remembered for his peculiar weapon. This weapon was known as Claimh Solais, the Sword of Light. The sword of Nuada was one of the Four Treasures of the Tuatha de Danann. According to the legend, no one could escape or resist the blade once it was taken from its sheath.

Moss Agate Collection