Irish Claddagh Clan Crests

Irish Clans
Irish clans are officially recognized groups of people who either share a surname or are descended from people who bore the surname. Since 1989, the government of the Republic of Ireland has recognized a charity called "Clans of Ireland" as the official registrar of these groups. Based at Athenry in County Galway, it is similar to a genealogical society with an additional social dimension. To date, more than 230 clans have registered.

There are several requirements for recognition as an official Irish clan:
The surname must have a documented history in Ireland prior to the Irish Potato Famine.
Membership must be open to any bearer of the surname (or descendant thereof) regardless of race, religion, or gender.
Membership must include at least six adult bearers of the surname.

Note that each clan may be divided into septs to reflect the religious, geographic, historic, and cultural diversity within the surname group.

The Claddagh
The Claddagh's (sometimes called claddaugh (or spelled incorrectly as cladaugh, claddah, cladagh or cladda) distinctive design features two hands clasping a heart, and usually surmounted by a crown. The elements of this symbol are often said to correspond to the qualities of love (the heart), friendship (the hands), and loyalty (the crown). The expression which was associated with these symbols in the giving of the ring was: "Let love and friendship reign."