Royal Tara is a top name in exquisite fine bone china for tables and giftware since starting over 50 years ago in Galway, Ireland. Their luxury ceramics are delicately hand-painted with some of the most beautiful Celtic designs, Irish Designs (Celtic crosses, Trinity Knots, etc.), and often feature famous Irish blessings. Perfect for a special gift for anyone from or missing Ireland!
When you buy Royal Tara bone china, you’re not just buying a mug or plate. You’re buying a piece of Irish history. Please browse Shamrock Gift’s ceramics section to see cups, Irish plaques, wall hangings, decorative ornaments & more!
Irish Claddagh Mugs
Among the exquisite items in this Celtic Ceramics selection are pieces like Claddagh Ring Mug - Irish Weave or Claddagh Ring Mug Set by Royal Tara that beautifully display the Irish Claddagh emblem.
There are multiple accounts that explain how the Claddagh came to be, but according to one legend, an Irishman named Richard Joyce created the first Claddagh in a ring design to honor his beloved who loyally waited for his return to Ireland after he was held in bondage for many years in a distant land. Another story claims that the Claddagh came to be through a woman named Margaret Joyce who wedded a wealthy Spaniard named Domingo de Rona in the 1500s. She became a rich widow when he passed away, and she used her wealth to build bridges in the Irish province of Connacht. For her generosity, an eagle dropped a Claddagh ring into her lap as a reward. The Claddagh’s message is a universal one that expresses the value of love, loyalty, and friendship. It is is made of two hands representing friendship, and they unite to hold a heart symbolizing love. Decorating the top of the heart is a crown signifying loyalty.
Celtic Cross Mugs
For those who are religious and also want to recognize their Celtic heritage, there are a few pieces that feature the Celtic Cross like:
Irish Celtic High Cross Mug Set- this hand-painted mug set features the High Cross surrounded by a tapestry of Celtic Knot braid patterns.
Celtic Cross Pottery Mug- this forest green pottery mug comes with a glossy sheen and a sturdy composition which is sure to last long time.
Ireland Cross Mug Set- this mug set includes intricate designs of richly-colored Celtic knot work, as well as a wonderfully-detailed Celtic Cross in shades of red, blue, green, and off-white.
The Celtic Cross, over time, became heavily associated with Christianity in modern times, but it is believed to be an evolution of the Sun Cross, which was used to honor Taranis, the god of thunder in Gaelic culture. The halo of the cross was believed to originally be a wheel and the cross itself a thunderbolt, which were the two objects Taranis would hold in his hands in ancient illustrations. Ancient Celts also used the cross’s four limbs to signify Divine, self, wisdom, and nature, the four arms of deeper spiritual knowledge, with the halo representing unification and wholeness. They also used the four limbs to symbolize the four cardinal directions of north, south, east, and west.
Irish Blessing Gifts
Some other items that will add some lovely Irish culture to your home are those that feature Irish greetings, sayings, and blessings.
The Royal Tara Ceramic Failte Mug wonderfully displays the Irish Gaelic word “failte,” which means “welcome.”
The Irish Slainte Mug Set features the very famous saying of “Slainte,” which is pronounced “SLAN-chƏ” and means “good health” in Irish Gaelic. This saying is frequently said when people are making a toast at celebratory gatherings from weddings to holiday parties. Irish blessings are some of the most heartwarming messages to send to a loved one.
Harp Irish Blessing Plate features Irish craft hand-painted shamrocks and a sea shell-scalloped border, presents the famous Irish blessing “May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the rain fall soft upon your fields and the sunshine warm upon your face until we meet again.”
Whether you’re looking for something to add style, elegance, and culture to your home or a thoughtful housewarming gift for a friend or family member, Shamrock Gift’s selection of Irish Ceramics items will have something just for you or that special person!