Claddagh

This article is about the Irish village. For other uses, see Claddagh (disambiguation).
Claddagh
An Cladach
Town
Claddagh

Location in Ireland

Coordinates: 53°16′09″N 9°03′23″W / 53.269037°N 9.056382°W / 53.269037; -9.056382Coordinates: 53°16′09″N 9°03′23″W / 53.269037°N 9.056382°W / 53.269037; -9.056382
Country Ireland
Province Connacht
County County Galway
Elevation 85 m (279 ft)
Population (2006)
 • Urban 2,614
Time zone WET (UTC+0)
 • Summer (DST) IST (WEST) (UTC-1)
Website www.galwaycoco.ie

Claddagh (Irish: an Cladach, meaning "the shore") is an area close to the centre of Galway city, where the Corrib River meets Galway Bay. It was formerly a fishing village, just outside the old city walls. It is just across the river from the Spanish Arch, which was the location of regular fish markets where the locals supplied the city with seafood as recently as the end of the 19th century. People have been gathering seafood and fishing from the area for millennia. It is one of the oldest former fishing villages in Ireland - its existence having been recorded since the arrival of Christianity in the 5th century.

The Claddagh on a cold January day

During the 19th century the Claddagh attracted many visitors, including writers who spread its fame. The original village of thatched cottages was razed in the 1930s and replaced by a council-housing scheme.[1]

The Claddagh is most famous internationally for the Claddagh ring, which is popular among those of Irish heritage as both a friendship and wedding ring. This traditional design consists of two clasped hands holding a crowned heart, and symbolises love, friendship and loyalty.

The Claddagh area contains a national school, Community Centre and a Catholic Church as well as the new Claddagh Arts Centre.

Notable natives of the area include Thomas Grady, recipient of the Victoria Cross.

See also

References

  1. ↑ The Claddagh — the old and the new, Galway Advertiser, December 18, 2008

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, April 04, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.