Eóganacht Airthir Cliach were a branch of the

Eóganachta The Eóganachta or Eoghanachta () were an Irish dynasty centred on Cashel which dominated southern Ireland (namely the Kingdom of Munster) from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of Desmond, an ...

, the ruling dynasty of Munster during the 5th-10th centuries. They took their name from Cliú, a territory in eastern Co.Limerick and parts of Tipperary. Airthir meant east and their territory was in the eastern section of this territory in Tipperary County around Tipperary town. They were descended from

Óengus mac Nad Froích Óengus mac Nad Froích (430-489) was an Eoganachta and the first Christian King of Munster. He was the son of Nad Froich mac Cuirc by Faochan, a British lady (called daughter of the King of Britain). In Geoffrey Keating's ''History of Ireland'' ...

(died 489), the first Christian King of Munster through his son

Eochaid mac Óengusa Eochaid mac Óengusa (died 522) was a King of Munster from the ruling Eoganachta dynasty. He was the son of Óengus mac Nad Froích (died 489), the first Christian king of Munster. The chronology of the 6th century Munster kings is confusing in t ...

(died 522) and grandson Crimthann Dearcon mac Echado. Crimthann's mother Dearcon was a member of the Arada Cliach, a minor group in Cliú. The Eóganacht Airthir Cliach were genealogically and geographically related to the inner circle of Eóganachta dynasties which included the Glendamnach, Chaisil and

Áine Áine () is an Irish goddess of summer, wealth and sovereignty. She is associated with midsummer and the sun,MacKillop, James (1998) ''Dictionary of Celtic Mythology'' Oxford: Oxford University Press pp.10, 16, 128 and is sometimes represent ...

but did not share in the rotation of the kingship of Munster in the 7th and much of the 8th centuries. The only confirmed king from this branch was Fergus Scandal mac Crimthainn (died 582).

References

* Byrne, Francis John (2001), Irish Kings and High-Kings, Dublin: Four Courts Press, * Charles-Edwards, T. M. (2000), ''Early Christian Ireland'', Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,
Ireland's History in Maps
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eoganacht Airthir Cliach Kings of Munster Eóganachta