http://www.pwestern.f9.co.uk/html/dat53.html#2
Dermot MacMurchada Lord of Leinster in 1168/69
Dermot MacMurchada, king of Leinster, had been deposed in Ireland, and he went to Henry II in 1168 to seek aid in reclaiming his kingdom. According to Gerald of Wales, Henry II issued a writ telling the men who held of him in any of his lands that they were free to aid Dermot in his quest. Dermot proceeded to Bristol to seek men, and he found them. Dermot offered Strongbow his daughter Eve (Aoife) in marriage as well as the kingdom of Leinster on Dermot's death, if Strongbow helped Dermot regain his kingdom. [For a complete discussion of the legality of this offer by Dermot, please see M. T. Flanagan's Irish Society, Anglo-Norman Settlers and Angevin Kingship included in the bibliography.] The Anglo-Normans who participated in the invasion of Ireland with Strongbow were an inter-connected group of men. These men were bound together by family, land and fealty; many tied to Wales by family and fiefs. They were men used to war and trained to take and defend frontier lands. Many had fought for King Henry in the Welsh wars of 1164/65 and lost their lands and/or their office as a result of Rhys ap Gruffydd's successes. Maurice and William fitz Gerald, Meiler fitz Henry, Robert fitz Stephen and Raymond le Gros were all related through Nest, daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr of Deheubarth. Hervey de Montmorency and Robert de Quinci were tied by blood and/or land to the de Clares.

The first contingent arrived in Ireland in May 1169; and with Dermot, who met them at Bannow, they took the city of Wexford. In May 1170 Raymond le Gros arrived, followed by Strongbow in August. Strongbow had collected men from Striguil, Gowerland and Haverfordwest, and he arrived at Waterford with 200 men-at-arms, and about one thousand archers. They met Dermot and the other Anglo-Normans and took Waterford on St Bartholomew's Eve (August 28, 1170). Strongbow and Eve were married in the Cathedral of Waterford, and after the marriage, the army immediately moved toward Dublin arriving September 21, 1170. They came with over 3000 Anglo-Normans and some 1000 Irish troops. While the city leaders were negotiating with Dermot and Strongbow through archbishop Lawrence O' Toole, Roderick (Rory) O'Connor withdrew his army and left the field. A small group of the besiegers broke the truce and took the city, causing Asgall Mac Torquil to take to his ships and flee to the Scottish Isles.