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Susan Friend
Susan Friend is Owner/Operator of Between Friends, a specialty gift boutique for 4 years. After graduating from WSU with a major in Sociology, Susan worked for Senior Services in Wichita with the Meals on Wheels program. Susan and her husband, Jason Stuhlsatz share their home with their "kids", two Collies; Jenny Lee and Cleo. You can contact Susan @ (316) 685-2240 or @ 8336 E 21st St. Siute 600.
Specialty Gifts
2005-02-01 11:24:00
Claddagh - friendship, loyalty, love
: What is the meaning of the Irish symbol "Claddagh"?
ANSWER: Claddagh, the Irish symbol of love and friendship, is a heart being held by a pair of hands with a crown above. The hands are friendship, the crown is loyalty, and the heart is love.Claddagh is a tiny Irish fishing Village near Galway City. The Claddagh ring originated there. As per the legend, the town designed a sigil to place on the sails of ships, and worn by the Sailors of Claddagh. When these sailors ran into other fishermen on their waters, they would look for a Claddagh sigil and if they did not find it, they would kill them. The Claddagh ring was developed by Richard Joyce, native of Galway. While being transported to the plantations of the Moorish West Indies as a slave, he was captured by pirates in the Mediterranean and trained in his craft by a goldsmith who bought him. He was set free in 1689 and he returned to Galway to set up shop in the Claddagh to make Claddagh rings. The ring became popular around Connamera, its popularity being helped by the big exodus out of the West during the 1847-49 Famine. These rings were kept as heirlooms with pride and passed from mother down to daughter.Today, the Claddagh ring is worn extensively in Ireland, either upon the right hand with the heart pointed outwards showing that the wearer is "free", or with the heart turned inwards to show that he or she is "married". A Dublin version of the Claddagh Ring appeared about 100 years ago with two hearts and two hands and no Crown. This is referred to as the Fenian Claddagh ring.
 
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