Celebrimbor had sent both Narya and Vilya out of Eregion to keep them away from Sauron's clutches. He sent them to Gil-galad, in Lindon where he hoped they would be safe.
Gil-galad gave Narya to Cirdan, who in turn, passed it on to Gandalf saying:
Quote:
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"It was entrusted to me only to keep secret, and here upon the West-shores it is idle." from Unfinished Tales: The Istari
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I don't think that Cirdan was ever actually meant to use Narya, he was merely to keep it secret and safe until Gandalf came along.