The Clan/Sept History

According to the work of a noted 19th century Irish antiquarian, Dr John O Donovan, the Mc Cabes were a branch of the MacLeods of Arran and would appear to have migrated to Ireland at the same time with the MacSweenys and MacDonnells 'Galloglach' (foreign volunteers - Gaelic) in the fourteenth
century.

O Donovan was basing his research on the writings of Duald MacFirbis, who was the last of the hereditary historians of Lecan, in the county of Sligo who compiled his great genealogical work in the college of St Nicholas at Galway in the year 1650.