(O'Mahony Translation, p. 281):

There were three orders of champions then [about B.C. 130] coexistent in Ireland; and neither before them nor since their time were there found any of the children of Miledh who were taller, more powerful, hardier, braver or more expert in feats of valor and chivalry than they; for the Fiann of Leinster was not to be compared with them. The first order of these was composed of the heroes or knights of the Red Branch, under Concobar. The second was formed of the Gamanraide (Gowanree) of Irrus Domnann, under Olild Finn [see p. 266 & note, "The Gamanraidhe were a fierce and warlike Belgian or Fer-Bolg tribe, seated in Erris or Irrus-Domnann, in the northwest of Connaught]; and the third was composed of the Clanna Degaidh in West-Munster, under Curigh, son of Dari.

[NOTE: If the above is to be believed, ALL of the military elites were of northern origin, with the exception of the Gamanraidhe, who were a Fer-Bolg tribe seemingly under the command of a northern tribe. The Eoghanachta do not appear figure at all in their history at this period.]

From the TOPOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX (taken from the the description of the Irish provinces in Connellan's Translation of the Annals of the Four Masters) of the same work (p. 699):

The Clanna Degaidh, another race, settled in Munster a short time before the Christian era. They were named Degadhs, from Degadh [or Deagha], their chief, and they were also called Ernans, from Olild Eronn, an prince of Ulster, and grandfather of Degadh. These Degadians, or Ernans, were of the race of Erimhon. Being expelled from Ulster, by the race of Ir, they went to Munster, where they were favorably received, and had lands allotted to them by Duach, king of Munster, of the race of Eber, who was then full Monarch of Ireland. The Clanna Degaidh make a remarkable figure in the ancient history of Munster. They had there extensive possessions, and they were the chief military commanders of Munster, and once nearly masters of the entire country. Some of them became kings of Munster, and three of them even monarchs of Ireland, namely, Edirsceol, and his son Conari; and Conari II., a descendant of Conari I., who was monarch of Ireland in the beginning of the third century [A.D.]. From Carbri Riada, son of Conari II, descended the Dalriadians, princes of Ulster, who planted a colony in Alba or Scotland, in the third century. From them were descended the Scottish kings of the Milesian race, and the royal house of Stuart. In the second century, the Degadhs becoming so powerful as nearly to assume the entire sovereignty of Munster, to the exclusion of the race of Eber, they were attacked and conquered by the celebrated Eoghan Mor, or Mogh Nuadath; who expelled them from Munster, except such families of them as yielded him submission. Amongst the chiefs of the Clanna Degaidh are mentioned Dari, and his son Curigh Mac Dari, famous warriors in Munster about the beginning of the Christian era.

About the beginning of the Christian era, Eochaidh Abradh-ruadh, or Eocaidh of the Red Brows, of the race of Eber, a man of gigantic stature, was king of South Munster, and Curigh Mac Dari was prince of North Munster. He was succeeded by Carbri Finn Mor, son of the monarch Conari, who was also of the Clanna Degaidh, as King of Munster. In the second century, amongst the battles fought by the monarch Tuathal Tectmar are mentioned those of Magh Raighni, and of Clár or Clare, in which fell Felim and Conall, two princes of the Degadhs of Munster. Eocaidh, the son of Dari, succeeded as king of both Munsters.

From O'Mahony's notes in the same work (p. 284)

Clans of Degaidh. Of the tribe of the renowned Curigh Mac Dari, the Degadians or Ernaans of Munster, several clans continued to hold a distinguished place amongst the septs of West Munster, down to a late period, notwithstanding their subjugation by the Eberian chieftain, Eoghan Mor, styled Mogh Nuadath. Of that race came the celebrated chief of the Irish people Daniel O'Connell. The Degadians were said to be the restorers of military disciplineand of the equestrian order in Munster. The principal clans into which they branched were the O'Falvies, O'Connells and O'Sheas of Kerry, the O'Flinns and O'Donegans of Muskery, the O'Cronacans, O'Corcorans, etc.

Keating (O'Mahony translation), p. 309-10

Partition of Ireland between Conn and Eoghan Mor, King of Munster, who was also called Mogh Nuadath.

This was that Conn from whom Mogh Nuadath, having vanquished him in ten battles, wrested the one half of Ireland. Sida, daughter of Flann, son of Fiacra, one of the Ernaans of Munster, was the mother of Mogh Nuadath.

The contest between these kings originated in the following manner: The Ernaans, of the posterity of of Fiacaidh Fer-mara of the race of Erimhon, had gained supremacy in Munster over the race of Eber Finn; so that three chieftains of that tribe now held the sovereignty of all Munster between them. Their names were Lugaidh Ellathach, Dari Dornmar, and Aengus. But, when Mogh Nuadath saw that the supremacy of his native principality had been thus usurped by the race of Erimhon, he proceeded to Leinster, where he had been fostered by Dari Barrach, son of Cathaeir Mor, and there he procured from his foster-father a numerous auxiliary force, wherewith to recover the kingdom of Munster, which was his birth-right. He then began by marching to Ui Liathain, in the south of Munster, where that Aengus, above mentioned, had established his sway. Him Mogh Nuadath vanquished and expelled from that country, so that he was forced to betake himself straightway to supplicate assistance from Conn, who gave him five catha [ "kahah" - battalions or legions, usually 3,000 fighting men per Cath], that is, fifteen thousand fighting men. With these Aengus marched upon the territory of Liathan [Barrymore, Co. Cork], and there, upon the height of Ard-Nemidh, he was met by Mogh Nuadath, who routed him a second time with great slaughter of his followers.

After this victory, Mogh Nuadath expelled from Munster all of the Ernaans that refused to do him homage. From these events, a great war broke out between Conn and the Munster prince, in which the former was defeated in ten battles, such as the battle of Brosnach [the river Brosnach, in Ely], the battle of Sampait, the battle of Grian [possibly Cnoc-Greni, the Hill of the Sun, over Pallasgrean, barony of Coonagh, co. Limerick], the battle of Ath-luain [i.e., the Ford of the Moon, now called Athlone], the battle of Magh-Atha-Crioch, where Fiacaidh Righ-fada, son of Feidlimidh Rechtmar, was slain, the battle of Asal [a plain near Croom, co. Limerick], the battle of Uisnech [Uisneach, in Meath], etc. This war then lasted ever until Mogh Nuadath had forced Conn to yield up one-half of Ireland to himself. All of Ireland that lies south of Ath-cliath and Galimh (i.e. Dublin and Galway, with the Eskir Riada for its boundary) was ceded to Mogh; and the name which that half got was LETH-MOGHA, i.e. Mogh's Half, or Leth Eoghain, from Eoghan, who was called Mogh Nuadath. The northern half was called LETH-CUINN, from Conn Cead-Cathach.

Also of interest from the O'Mahony translation (p. 232)

[Regarding the Feast of Tara] There was also, thereat, an especial seat to each of the chieftains of the bands of warriors who were retained in the service of the kings and lords of Ireland.

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