McCabe

Motto: "Aut Vincere Aut Mori"
Translation: "Conquer Or Die"

The Gaelic surname which was anglicized McCABE is MacCABA. Caba is the Irish world for cap, hood, helmet. The name thus means "the son of the helmeted one."

Ancient annalists trace the descent of the family to Colla da Croich, the famous founder of the Kingdom of Oriel from whom many Ulster families take their origin. Oriel territory took in modern Counties Monaghan, Armagh and part of Louth, and it is in Monaghan and Cavan that today we find the McCabe family numerically strongest.

As one might gather from the family motto, "Conquer Or Die" the military profession was the field where the McCabes made their greatest mark. Historically they were gallowglasses (from gall foreigner + oglach soldier; 1. a mercenary or retainer of an Irish chief 2. an armed Irish foot soldier) in the armies of the O'Reillys, the O'Rourkes and the MacMahons. This accounts for the fact that we find so many of the name in Cavan as well as in their original home in Monaghan.

It is only to be expected therefore that the material fortunes of the McCabes followed those of the O'Reillys and other noble families to whom they were attached by alliance or kinship. And like these ancient clans the McCabes lost everything in the confiscation that followed the defeat of the Stuarts and the military enforcement of the iniquitous penal laws in Ireland.

After the decline of the ancient Gaelic order there was no longer scope on Irish soil for military prowess, but we find the McCabes becoming prominent in other fields. Among these we may note: Cathaoir McCabe who died in 1740, and was a famous bard and lifelong friend of Carolan, "the last of the bards;" William McCabe (1776-1821), one of the most romantic figures among the United Irishmen; His Eminence Cardinal McCabe (1816-1885) who succeeded Cardinal Cullen as Archbishop of Dublin; Bernard McCabe (1801-1891), the noted author.

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