Here is a brief and rather hastily written summary of my talk to the McCabe Clan Rally in Ballyconnell last weekend.
The McCabes in Early 17th century Cavan
The Mccabes had arrived in Ireland from Scotland, and had acted as mercenaries for numerous septs throughout the north of the Island. However, by the end of the sixteenth century their long-term prospects were gloomy. The English crown was increasing its influence, and they had a low opinion of families like the McCabes who earned their living through fighting. What’s more, their military skills were becoming ever more redundant.
The final denouement was the defeat of the Ulster rebellion, sealed by the Treaty of Mellifont f 1603. Many of the leaders of Gaelic Irish society, such as Aedfh O’Neill or Aedh O Domhnall chose exile rather than the uncertain future that awaited them. Among those leaving Ireland at the time was a captain Seamus McCaba who left Cavan for Spain, never to return.
Their departure ushered in the Plantation of Ulster, where the lands of the Irish were given to planters from England and Scotland, and the original inhabitants were forced to live on restricted holding for which they had to pay high rents.
The relationship between native and newcomer was not one of undeclared hostility though. While the Irish had lost much of their lands this did not cause universal resentment. They were still able to farm land, in return for paying higher rents, which many planters were only too happy to rent to them. The two groups lived beside one another and generally co-operated with one another. Marriages were rare if only because the two groups belonged to different religions, but they did occur, such as that between the Reverent Richard Parsons of Laragh, and a woman of the Ui Raghallaigh sept. There were also less formal unions. A prominent member of the Burrowes family of Stradone had a child by one McCabe, her serving man.
The McCabes seemed to have accepted this situation. Henry or Harry McCabe, a youth moved to Cavan town where he was brought up as the son of an inn keeper. There were still avenues for even greater advancement, as shown by James McCabe who became a highly respected lawyer and barrister.
In geographical terms the McCabes lived in central Cavan, in a belt of territory ranging from Ballintemple and Crosserlough in the south, to Drumgoon in the north, and extending to Drumlane in the west. The centre of their landholding was at Ogghill, later renamed Moynehall in honour of the planter Thomas Moigne.
The balance between native and newcomer was upset by fears at the growth of the puritan party inn England, and that their victory might lead to further acts of discrimination against Catholics in Ireland. A plot was hatched by, amongst others, Lord Conor Maguire, baron of Enniskillen. This involved the seizure of Dublin Castle on October 23rd. The plan miscarried because its details were leaked, and its leaders arrested. Amongst those detained with Conor Maguire was a Culde Boy McCabe.
The rebellion was initially successful in Cavan, its leaders were Philip McHugh O Reilly and sheriff Myles O’Reilly. The McCabes do not figure prominently amongst the voluminous depositions which have survived, and which often tell a story of barbarity and former friends becoming enemies. They didn’t take part in any of the excesses of the rebellion in Cavan, such as the drownings at Belturbet or the murders of planters at Lear near Bailieborough. However, some were implicated in attacks on the planters. The aforementioned Harry McCabe, turned on his benefactor at the start of the rebellion. He seized his goods and drove him and his family out of Cavan. When the man re-entered the county in the autumn of 1643 as part of a band of soldiers, Harry ambushed and killed them near Virginia. James McCabe the barrister became a judge when the rebel authorities tried to reinstate court proceedings in Cavan in 1642.
The leaders of the rebellion lost their lands, though it is unclear just how far the McCabes suffered this fate. James McCabe died in 1642 while Harry seems to have made a full confession of his crimes once English rule was re-established in the county.
© Ciaran Parker 2010
