My Claddagh ring was gifted to me by my grandmother when I was fourteen, as a reminder of our Irish heritage. Though it is not a family heirloom, it carries profound emotional weight. I wear it every day, and over time it has become a part of me an object I reach for in moments of comfort, reflection, or uncertainty. It connects me not only to my grandmother, but to a lineage of women and ancestors whose stories live on in gesture rather than written record. The ring holds memory through touch: the weight on my finger, the shape I’ve come to know so well, the act of sliding it on each morning. In the absence of letters, heirlooms, or documented histories, this ring has become a quiet archive. It offers a sense of belonging that is embodied rather than spoken. It reminds me that heritage can be carried not just through place or language, but through the objects we keep close, those that endure, witness, and stay with us.

– Maude

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more