Knowing that a people known as the Menapii/Menapians settled in south-eastern Leinster around 216 BC (see the history of Co. Fermanagh) seemingly coming from the area of modern-day Flanders in Belgium (see map of Menapi settled in Belgium) it looks as if the Menapians were the people known to the Annalists as the Tuatha De Danaans.

Ugaine Mor, the first historically verified Ard Ri of Ireland and, according to the Annalists, ancestor to both the O Nuallains and O hUllachains, held court at Dinn Righ (near modern-day Leighlinbridge, up-river from Waterford) around 300 BC in what later became Menapian territory as can clearly be seen from Ptolemy’s 150 AD map of Ireland.

According to the Annals of Ireland the Nualláins were part of the Tuatha De Danaan tribal confederacy playing a leadership role in protecting the various tribes of the confederacy much like the Scythians of the Black Sea area, renown for their horseback riding abilities, had earlier done for the Yamna tribal confederacy This ancient role assigned of lord protector seems to have been to s practice seems to have continued into medieval times with the O Nolan chief being recognized as the Marshall for the kings of Leinster, “marshalling” the troops when necessary. . s were knownThis is a much broader role than simply being a mercenary army supporting a ruling class as suggested in the book entitled “Celtic Leinster” by Alfred Smyth.