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Connemara Marble
Found exclusively in the rocky shores of West of Ireland, Connemara marble is quarried in the Connemara Mountains near Galway Bay. Its color spectrum ranges from varying shades of creamy pale green to hues of sage and moss to nearly black, as well as shades of creamy yellow. It is the world's only truly green marble. Connemara marble has been used for centuries in Celtic jewelry and is called Ireland's national gemstone. It originated more than six million years ago and is becoming increasingly rare. We have several Connemara marble jewelry pieces for you to browse through – and be sure to check each piece for matching necklaces, bracelets and earrings.
Our Celtic jewelry line also includes beautiful and delicate pieces for your wee one. Our Stretch Birthstone Claddagh wee lass bracelets come with a matching organza bag, which provides a great place to store the bracelet. This heirloom quality bracelet is made with grade A cultured pearls, Swarovski crystals and sterling silver. We also carry several varieties of 1st Holy Communion bracelets: a Celtic cross, Trinity knot or plain sterling cross charm. Each sterling silver bracelet is adjustable in size.
Claddagh
The story of the Claddagh Ring began in a fishing village of Claddagh in Co. Galway located on the west coast of Ireland. In the early 16th century an Irish fishing boat capsized off the coast of Ireland. The crew was rescued by pirates and promptly sold into slavery. Richard Joyce, one of the Irish crewmen, was to be married that same week, but alas he was forced to leave his beloved behind.
Richard was sold to a goldsmith who taught him the trade of goldsmithing. A quick study, Richard learned this trade very well and heartsick for his one true love, he crafted a very special ring for her fashioned of three symbols – hands signifying friendship, a crown signifying loyalty and a heart signifying love.
Years passed and Richard escaped captivity and returned home to find, to his great joy, that the girl he loved had never married. Richard and his love married and settled in the village of Claddagh.
Since that time the Claddagh Ring has been worn as a sign of Love, Loyalty and Friendship.Worn on the left hand with the heart facing towards one's heart, it is a betrothal and wedding ring. And worn on the right hand with the heart facing outward it is a sign of friendship.
The true Irish Claddagh jewelry bears a mark of authenticity, which cannot be imitated. A genuine Irish Claddagh is one that is handcrafted in Ireland, assayed in Dublin Castle and hallmarked by the Irish Assay master.
St. Brigid's Cross
St. Brigid "Mary of the Geal", abbess and patroness of Ireland, was born near Dundalk near Fochard in 453 A.D. She founded the first Irish convent, located in Kildare. Her feast day falls on the first day of spring, the first of February and the day on which she died in the year 524 A.D. Her body lies at Downpatrick beside the graves of St. Patrick and St. Columba.
Tradition tells us that the renown of St. Brigid's unbounded charity drew multitudes of the poor to her door, which much enraged her father Dubhtach, a Leinster pagan chieftain. One day, after supplies had been exhausted, in a rage he came to inspect the dairy, vowing to sell Brigid into slavery, as he had previously sold her mother. To his amazement, instead of empty vessels, he found the churn and crocks overflowing with butter and milk. God had worked a miracle for his child of grace.
St. Brigid's father was a stubborn disbeliever. When the time of his death was drawing near she sat by him in prayer. While she kept her long watch, she whiled away the time by weaving her first cross from the rushes at her feet as rush and was the floor covering at the time. Her father seeing the cross asked her to explain its meaning and was so overwhelmed that he became a Christian before his death. The rush cross became her emblem.
It is piously believed that this emblem keeps evil and hunger from the homes in which it is displayed. For centuries it has been customary, on the eve of her feast-day, for Irish folk to fashion a St. Brigid's Cross of straw or rushes and place it inside the house, over the door. St. Brigid crosses were used during the penal days of religious persecution in Ireland as they could be easily dismantled in time of danger when the penalty was death if found in possession of a religious emblem. Today this symbol is popular among Celtic cross necklaces.
The Shamrock
Long ago, when Ireland was the land of Druids, a Christian Bishop known to us now as St. Patrick, came to teach the word of God. Although the origins of the shamrock are lost in antiquity, legend suggests that it was St. Patrick who plucked a shamrock from Irish soil to demonstrate the simple (three-in-one) meaning of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The shamrock is found on Irish medieval tombs and on old copper coins, known as St. Patrick's money. The plant was reputed to have mystic powers... the leaves standing upright to warn of an approaching storm.
Derived from the Irish word 'seamrog" meaning 'summer plant,' one thing is certain about the shamrock, it ‘s a form of Irish jewelry worn by millions all over the world on St. Patrick's Day and remains Ireland's most famous symbol.
The Trinity Knot
The Triquetra, more commonly known as the Trinity Knot, is a Celtic symbol of ancient origin and one of the earliest symbols of Christianity predating the crucifix by hundreds of years. The triquetra is most simply represented by three interlocking circles. Often the triquetra is found illustrated with three fish in a similar shape. This symbol is theorized to represent a three-in-one concept similar to that of the triple spiral. The triquetra could have symbolized earth, air, and water. Another theory is the triquetra symbolized mind, body, and soul.
Because we cannot with certainty know the ancient Celt's views on a soul we can only speculate about their views on rebirth. So using the modern-day connotation of soul we can conceptually understand the Celtic intention to represent interconnectedness of three parts in one. When Christianity was introduced to Ireland, the Triquetra became known as the Trinity Knot which symbolized the persons in one God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The Celtic Spiral
The single spiral is the oldest and most recorded of these motifs. It has symbolized the growth, expansion and cosmic energy depending on the culture in which it is used. To the Celts, the spiral was used to represent the sun. A tightly wound, clockwise spiral represented the shrinking winter sun. The counter spiral represented the large summer sun. The double spiral is used to represent the equinoxes, when the day and night are of equal length. Originating as a symbol of the Triple Goddess (maiden, mother, crone) in pre-Christian times, the triple centered spirals were also found in illuminating manuscripts. This design can also represent the waxing, waning and full moon.
Archeologists can date these symbols found on rocks and scratched on rudimentary tombs to be thousands of years old. The spirals found on ancient tombs have been drawn in one continuous line. Spirals, whether in single form or multiple spirals together, represent rebirth or life cycles.
Celtic Knot
Celtic knotwork embodies a richness and pureness of ancient Celtic times. It dates back as far as the 5th century and was used extensively by the ancient monks to illuminate the world famous Book of Kells and Book of Durrow manuscripts. There is much speculation and scholarly guesses associated with the meaning of Celtic knots. The Celts didn't keep records of the meanings of the designs they created but they were prevalent in so many areas of their life. Because of the context of the designs that scholars have studied it has been speculated that the knots represented basic tenants of life, mankind and spirituality. Some could have been created to ward off evil spirits, others are said to relate to the concept of eternity, eternal life, or the interconnectedness of all living things. Over time, archaeologists have determined that the outer shape of a knot, as seen in our Celtic knot earrings, is key to the overall meaning and have recorded a key of sorts to aid in determining the context of Celtic designs.
The Celtic knot is one of the best known motifs in Celtic jewelry and art. The delicate twists and turns are found in ancient stone art and tattoos, in illuminated manuscripts- in fact, just about anywhere the Celtic people have traveled. Similar designs exist in Norse culture, and as far as China.
The continual looping of the designs suggests themes of eternity and interconnectedness, and knots may have been made at one time to foil evil spirits. Interwoven figures of people and animals may have represented the interdependent nature of life – two or more knots laced together symbolize lovers, hunters and their prey, God and man, etc. from spirits or malevolent influence. Interlaced animals and men usually represent relationships, or emphasize the interdependence of mankind and nature.
The Color Green
Ireland's national color was, at one time, St. Patrick's blue. By the 19th century, the color green had taken its place. During Queen Victoria's reign, her Irish regiments were forbidden to "wear the green", meaning to display the shamrock on St. Patrick's Day.
Long before St. Patrick, the green of grass, of shamrocks, and of all growing things had special meaning to the Irish. It was a symbol of springtime. At this time of year, like other people of ancient times, the Irish honored the gods and goddesses of plant life. Then with the coming of St. Patrick and other missionaries, some of the old pagan rites became linked to important days in the Christian calendar. Gradually, Easter and St. Patrick's Day took the place of the ancient pagan celebration of springtime. Covered with green valleys, fields and pastures, Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle.
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