LINKED by BLOOD

Early Irish Annals also record that Eochaidh Fionn and Cathair Mor were distantly related going back to the 3rd century BC when Ugaine Mor, the first historically proven Ard Ri of Ireland, ruled over much of the Celtic territory in north-western Europe and had his royal seat at Dun Ailinne in Co. Kildare.  According to the Annals, Ugaine was married to Ceassair, a daughter of the King of Gaul and, upon his death, his possessions were passed on to his 25 children, the eldest sons being Cobhthach Caol Breagh and Laogaire Lorc.  Cobhthach inherited the area around Tara in Co. Wesmeath (“Breagh) and Laogaire Lorc the lands around Dublin.  Eochaidh Fionn (ancestor of most Carlow Nolans and Nolans elsewhere) descended from Cobhthach while Cathair Mor and the O hUllachains (ancestor of most Holohans, variants thereof and some Nolans) while Cathair Mor descended from Laogaire Lorc, Cobhthach’s brother.

LINKED by KINSHIP

According to early Irish annals, the second century prince Eochaidh Fionn, son  of Feidlimidh Reachtmar (Philip the lawgivwer), was married to a grand-daughter of Cathair Mor, the ancestor of the O hUllachains, and local tradition holds that Cathair Mor was buried atop Ballon Hill at the very heart of modern-day Nolan territory in Co. Carlow. When Eochaidh Fionn’s father, the Ard Ri, died in the 2nd century AD, the council of chiefs chose Cathair Mor as the new Ard Ri.  This, however, did not sit well with  Eochaidh Fionn’s eldest brother who, through battle, as was permitted under Celtic law, wrenched the kingship from Cathair Mor, becoming known to history as Conn of the Hundred Battles. In all of this Eochaidh Fionn and his brother Fiachra sided with Cathair Mor and a few years later a grandson of Conn of the Hundred Battles bannished Eochaidh Fionn and Fiachra and their following to Leinster.  Eochaidh Fionn settled in what became known as the barony of Forth in Co. Carlow and, over time, some of .Cathair Mor and Eochaidh Fionn’s descendants drifted to other parts of Ireland.