Fiercely proud of my heritage, I was born and raised in England to my Irish father and my mother, whose family mainly came from Ireland, too. Growing up I always felt that an immense part of my identity was Irish – reflected in my appearance with pale skin, dark hair and a face covered in freckles. I bought this Claddagh ring as a teenager, saving pocket money for months leading up to the eagerly awaited trip to stay with my beloved grandmother. I’d been educated about the symbolism regarding the Claddagh ring: the crown for loyalty, the hands for friendship and the heart for love. To 13-year-old me, the notion of this ring was wonderfully intricate and enormously romantic, so naturally I was ecstatic when my parents took me to…
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The Simple Things (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 2022