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                                                              OMB APPROVAL
                                                        ------------------------
                           UNITED STATES                OMB Number:    3235-0145
                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION      Expires: August 31, 1999
                      WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549           Estimated average
                                                        burden
                                                        Hours per response 14.90
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                           SCHEDULE 13G


            UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                        (AMENDMENT NO.___)*



                           SmartForce Public Ltd. Co.
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                                (Name of Issuer)


                 American Depository Shares and Ordinary Shares
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                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                    83170A206
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                                 (CUSIP Number)


                                December 31, 2000
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             (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:

       [ ]   Rule 13d-1(b)

       [ ]   Rule 13d-1(c)

       [X]   Rule 13d-1(d)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).



POTENTIAL PERSONS WHO ARE TO RESPOND TO THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION CONTAINED
IN THIS FORM ARE NOT REQUIRED TO RESPOND UNLESS THE FORM DISPLAYS A CURRENTLY
VALID OMB CONTROL NUMBER.

SEC 1745 (3-98)


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CUSIP No. 83170A206

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     1.   Names of Reporting Persons.
          I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).

          William G. McCabe
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     2.   Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

          (a) [ ]

          (b) [X] Not Applicable
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     3.   SEC Use Only
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     4.   Citizenship or Place of Organization:   Republic of Ireland
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Number of         5.   Sole Voting Power:         1,301,687
Shares Bene-      --------------------------------------------------------------
ficially          6.   Shared Voting Power:       1,857,799
Owned by Each     --------------------------------------------------------------
Reporting         7.   Sole Dispositive Power:    1,301,687
Person With:      --------------------------------------------------------------
                  8.   Shared Dispositive Power:  1,857,799
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     9.   Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person:
          4,437,368*

    10.   Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares
          (See Instructions)  [ ]

    11.   Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9):  8%
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    12.   Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions):  IN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          *INCLUDES 1,277,882 SHARES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF OPTIONS


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              SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLYING WITH SCHEDULE 13G

       Under Sections 13(d), 13(g), and 23 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder, the Commission is authorized to
solicit the information required to be supplied by this schedule by certain
security holders of certain issuers.

       Disclosure of the information specified in this schedule is mandatory,
except for I.R.S. identification numbers, disclosure of which is voluntary. The
information will be used for the primary purpose of determining and disclosing
the holdings of certain beneficial owners of certain equity securities. This
statement will be made a matter of public record. Therefore, any information
given will be available for inspection by any member of the public.

       Because of the public nature of the information, the Commission can use
it for a variety of purposes, including referral to other governmental
authorities or securities self-regulatory organizations for investigatory
purposes or in connection with litigation involving the Federal securities laws
or other civil, criminal or regulatory statutes or provisions. I.R.S.
identification numbers, if furnished, will assist the Commission in identifying
security holders and, therefore, in promptly processing statements of beneficial
ownership of securities.

       Failure to disclose the information requested by this schedule, except
for I.R.S. identification numbers, may result in civil or criminal action
against the persons involved for violation of the Federal securities laws and
rules promulgated thereunder.

                              GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

A.     Statements filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b) containing the information
       required by this schedule shall be filed not later than February 14
       following the calendar year covered by the statement or within the time
       specified in Rules 13d-1(b)(2) and 13d-2(c). Statements filed pursuant to
       Rule 13d-1(c) shall be filed within the time specified in Rules 13d-1(c),
       13d-2(b) and 13d-2(d). Statements filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(d) shall
       be filed not later than February 14 following the calendar year covered
       by the statement pursuant to Rules 13d-1(d) and 13d-2(b).

B.     Information contained in a form which is required to be filed by rules
       under section 13(f) (15 U.S.C. 78m(f)) for the same calendar year as that
       covered by a statement on this schedule may be incorporated by reference
       in response to any of the items of this schedule. If such information is
       incorporated by reference in this schedule, copies of the relevant pages
       of such form shall be filed as an exhibit to this schedule.

C.     The items numbers and captions of the items shall be included but the
       text of the items is to be omitted. The answers to the items shall be so
       prepared as to indicate clearly the coverage of the items without
       referring to the text of the items. Answer every item. If an item is
       inapplicable or the answer is in the negative, so state.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM 1.

      (a)  Name of Issuer:  SmartForce Public Ltd. Co.

      (b)  Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
                                               Belfield Office Park,
                                               Clonskeagh
                                               Dublin 4, IRELAND

ITEM 2.

      (a)  Name of Person Filing:  William G. McCabe

      (b)  Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:
                                               Unit 1, Blackrock Business Park,
                                               Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock,
                                               Co. Dublin, IRELAND

      (c)  Citizenship:  Republic of Ireland

      (d)  Title of Class of Securities:  American Depositary Shares and
           Ordinary Shares

      (e)  CUSIP Number:     83170A206

ITEM 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 240.13d-1(b) OR
        240.13d-2(b) OR (c), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A:

      (a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act
              (15 U.S.C. 78c).

      (b) [ ] Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

      (c) [ ] Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act
              (15 U.S.C. 78c).

      (d) [ ] Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment
              Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8).

      (e) [ ] An investment advisor in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)
              (ii)(E);

      (f) [ ] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with
              Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);


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   4

      (g) [ ] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with
              Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

      (h) [ ] A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal
              Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);

      (i) [ ] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
              investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
              Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);

      (j) [ ] Group, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP

       Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and
percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.

      (a)   Amount of beneficially owned:   4,437,368

      (b)   Percent of class:  8%

      (c)   Number of shares as to which the person has:

            (i)   Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 1,301,687

            (ii)  Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:  1,857,799

            (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
                  1,301,687

            (iv)  Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
                  1,857,799

       Instruction. For computations regarding securities which represent a
right to acquire an underlying security see Section 240.13d-3(d)(1).

ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS

       If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date
hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than
five percent of the class of securities, check the following.  [ ]

Instruction: Dissolution of a group requires a response to this item.

ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON

       If any other person is known to have the right to receive or the power to
direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such
securities, a statement to that effect should be included in response to this
item and, if such interest relates to more than five percent of the class, such
person should be identified. A listing of the shareholders of an investment
company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the beneficiaries
of employee benefit plan, pension fund or endowment fund is not required.

       1,857,799 SHARES ARE HELD IN THE NAME OF PEREGRINE COMPANY MANAGERS LTD.
ON BEHALF OF BENTICO TRADING LTD., A COMPANY CONTROLLED BY A FAMILY TRUST
ESTABLISHED BY MR. MCCABE. MR. MCCABE DISCLAIMS BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF THESE
SHARES HELD ON BEHALF OF BENTICO TRADING LTD., WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 13d-3
OF THE EXCHANGE ACT.

ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE
        SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY

       If a parent holding company has filed this schedule, pursuant to Rule
13d-1(b)(ii)(G), so indicate under Item 3(g) and attach an exhibit stating the
identity and the Item 3 classification of the relevant subsidiary. If a parent
holding company has filed this schedule pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c) or Rule
13d-1(d), attach an exhibit stating the identification of the relevant
subsidiary.

ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP

       If a group has filed this schedule pursuant to Section
240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), so indicate under Item 3(j) and attach an exhibit
stating the identity and Item 3 classification of each member of the group. If a
group has filed this schedule pursuant to Section 240.13d-1(c) or Section
240.13d-1(d), attach an exhibit stating the identity of each member of the
group.

ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP

       Notice of dissolution of a group may be furnished as an exhibit stating
the date of the dissolution and that all further filings with respect to
transactions in the security reported on will be filed, if required, by members
of the group, in their individual capacity. See Item 5.

ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION


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   5

       (a)    The following certification shall be included if the statement is
              filed pursuant to Section 240.13d-1(b):

              By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
              belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are
              held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and
              are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or
              influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were
              not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a
              participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

       (b)    The following certification shall be included if the statement is
              filed pursuant to Section 240.13d-1(c):

              By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
              belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are
              not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or
              influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were
              not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a
              participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

                                    SIGNATURE

       After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set in this statement is true, complete and
correct.

                                                        02/14/01
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                          Date

                                                 /s/ William G. McCabe
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                       Signature

                                                           N/a
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                       Name/Title

       The original statement shall be signed by each person on whose behalf the
statement is filed or his authorized representative. If the statement is signed
on behalf of a person by his authorized representative other than an executive
officer or general partner of the filing person, evidence of the
representative's authority to sign on behalf of such person shall be filed with
the statement, provided, however, that a power of attorney for this purpose
which is already on file with the Commission may be incorporated by reference.
The name and any title of each person who signs the statement shall be typed or
printed beneath his signature.

NOTE: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five
copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Section 240.13d-7 for other
parties for whom copies are to be sent.

       ATTENTION: INTENTIONAL MISSTATEMENTS OR OMISSIONS OF FACT CONSTITUTE
FEDERAL CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS (SEE 18 U.S.C. 1001)


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