History of the Claddagh Rings

The Claddagh ring is Irelands most romantic and enduring Celtic jewelry tradition. It is customary for the ring
Claddagh itself is one of Ireland's oldest fishing villages just outside Galway City in the west of Ireland. Legend has it that one of its residents a Richard Joyce was abducted while out fishing, by Moorish pirates and taken back to Tunisia. There he was to become a slave and learned the craft of a Goldsmith.

to be worn as a wedding or engagement ring and then to be handed down from generation to generation.

In 1670 he was released when King William III came to the throne and concluded an agreement whereby all his subjects who where held captive were allowed to return to their homes. Richard`s former master pleaded with him to stay, marry one of his daughters and inherit half of all his wealth. But all to no avail Richard was returning to his one true Irish love back in Claddagh. When he arrived home he found that his true love was unmarried and still waiting for him. They set up a Goldsmiths store together. Where Richard made the first Claddagh rings and used at their own wedding.

In earlier times in Claddagh village the design of the ring was the symbol of the "fishing Kings of Claddagh" the meaning being then "in love and friendship let us reign". The heart symbolizes love, the hands symbolizes friendship and the crown loyalty. The popularity of the Claddagh ring was helped by the mass exodus from Ireland during the great famine 1845-50.

Some famous wearers of the Claddagh ring include Queen Victoria, Edward VII and lately Buffy the vampire slayer (who was given the ring by Angel). The present Governor of New York recently mentioned that over 200 Claddagh rings had been recovered from the attack on the world trade center on September 11th 2001.

The tradtional Claddagh symbols - heart for love, hands for friendship and crown for loyalty.

How to wear your Claddagh Ring;

Right hand with the heart pointing outwards = Fancy free,
Right hand with the heart pointing inwards = Spoken for,
Left hand with the heart pointing inwards = Found true love,

A Lot Like Love

Ashton Kutcher isn't a great actor. Let's face it -- he isn't going to win any acting awards anytime in the near

future. However he is quite competent at playing variations of Kelso -- the character that made him famous on the hit FOX series 'That 70's Show.' Kelso is bumbling, inept and manages to possess an uncanny combination of insecurity and confidence. Kutcher's film roles don't stray much from that formula and his character Oliver in his new movie 'A Lot Like Love' isn't an exception to the rule. While being light-years ahead of Kelso in the intelligence department he has all the other characteristics that make him just as endearing and lovable and fun to watch.

Amanda Peet's character Emily is just as bumbling, inept and simultaneously sure and unsure of herself as Oliver. The relationship that develops between the two works because they seem like twin souls that were destined to meet and no amount of time or separation will change the fact that they are made for each other. The movie also works because the chemistry between Kutcher and Peet is palpable and one could easily believe that the two would make a great couple off screen as well.

Taking place over a seven year span Emily and Oliver have several short and not so chance encounters that take place after an initial chance and very memorable meeting on a plane as they travel from Los Angeles to New York. Unlike most romantic comedies, their relationship is allowed to develop over the course of the plot, and while they never have that much time together their initial friendship and later romance seems natural and believable.

The film could have easily fallen into the trap of many romantic comedies that force the audience to believe that two completely different individuals manage to fall madly in love with each other in a matter of days, despite overwhelming odds and all the obvious signs that they are completely wrong for each other. Hell, in many romantic comedies the characters know they are in love long before the audience can figure out why they even like each other let alone are in love. In 'A Lot Like Love,' the audience recognizes how right the characters are for one another before they are willing to make such an admission to themselves. Watching Oliver and Emily struggle with their pride and plans, and the natural fear that comes with putting your heart on the line, is sweet and endearing and tugs at your heartstrings without feeling forced or contrived.

The movie also doesn't shy away from how imperfect the characters are. Emily has a problem with being by herself and has to confirm she "still has it" by hooking up with the first guy she meets when a relationship has ended. And Oliver doesn't know how to live in the moment and must plan every aspect of his life well in advance or he is unable to function. Their flaws are realistic and they experience many of the problems young twenty somethings face as they try to find their way in life and love which adds to the convincing nature of the story and its characters.

The movie isn't perfect. There's some dialogue that I could have lived without and the attempt by Oliver to get Emily back via a musical serenade outside of her home is an over-used movie device that has seemed cliched ever since John Cusack's boom box blasted out Peter Gabriel on the lawn of Ione Skye's house in 'Say Anything.'

But I will admit I was pleasantly surprised at how entertaining I found 'A Lot Like Love.' I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a smart, funny, innovative comedy about looking for, finding, and knowing when to take hold of the love that lies right within your grasp.

Catch a Leprechaun in Your Garden

These apparently aged, diminutive men are hard-working cobblers, turning out exquisite shoes for other

sprites. If you happen across an industrious little fellow hammering out a shoe, look closely - for he may be a leprechaun. Step quietly, for leprechauns will avoid humans, knowing us to be foolish and greedy.

As well as cobbling, his other trade is banking, and he is guardian to the ancient treasures. Much treasure was left by the Danes when they marauded through Ireland, and the leprechaun buries it in crocks or pots. Rainbows reveal where pots of gold are hidden, so he will sometimes spend all day moving crocks from one spot to another to elude the tell-tale end of the rainbow. If you catch a leprechaun, don't let him out of your grasp before he reveals his gold. He'll try to distract you with all manner of tricks and, in the blink of an eye, will dash out of sight. For such a sturdy little chap, he can move with the speed of a rabbit.

A leprechaun dresses in old-fashioned clothes of green, with a red cap, multi-pocketed leather apron, and buckled shoes. He is quite fond of a smoke from his foul smelling clay pipe which is always close by, and he is frequently in an intoxicated state from home-brew poteen. However, a leprechaun never becomes so drunk that the hand which holds the hammer becomes unsteady and his shoemaker's work affected. If you hear the sound of a hammer from behind a hedgerow you know you have found him.

Leprechauns come in two distinct groups - leprechaun and cluricaun. A cluricaun dresses very stylishly with a jaunty cap, large silver buckles on his shoes, beautiful gold laces and pale blue stockings. You will never see him wear an apron or carry a hammer. He has a jolly grin, a slightly pink-tipped nose and is almost always drunk and cheerful. Pass him by, for he never has any money, or any idea where treasure is buried.

He carries two leather pouches. In one there is a silver shilling, a magical coin that returns to the purse each time it's spent. In the other there is a gold coin for bribing his way out of difficult situations. (Don't accept this coin - it turns into a rock). But he can be generous if you do him a good turn. Your kind deed wil be repaid with a wish.

A cluricaun will steal or borrow almost anything, making merry and creating mayhem in your house during the hours of darkness. He will happily busy himself raiding your kitchen, pantry, larder and cellar and after dinner he will harness your sheep, goats, dogs and even your domestic fowls to ride away.Through the countryside he will race them, over the fields and into the bog. Leprechauns denounce cluricaun behavior, but it has been said that cluricauns may just be leprechauns on drunken sprees.

You can make a trap with common household items. Take a net, a cardboard box, green paint, green tissue paper, some pennies and an old shoe. Firstly, paint the cardboard box green and place the old shoe inside. Cover the opening with thin green tissue paper. Carefully lay the pennies on the tissue paper. (If you don't want to use real money, you can easily substitute chocolate gold- wrapped coins or make your own by cutting circles out of cardboard and painting them gold).

Place the trap near some trees or hedgerows. Make sure it's disguised well and blends into the surroundings. When the Leprechaun sees the coins he will try to collect them. He will step onto the tissue paper, it will break and he will fall into the box. Now quickly throw the net over him.

You can also try to lure a leprechaun with some poteen instead of an old shoe. When he falls into the box he will drink the brew, get drunk and then you can grab him.