Mark,
Looking at your post of 25th April I note that you say your ancestor “joined” the British army in 1833. I assume the double commas indicate some doubt as to whether he joined voluntarily. There was no conscription in Ireland then and so anyone who joined did so voluntarily. People joined then for the same reasons as they do today. (A relatively secure job, training, overseas travel and a pension). It would be unwise to assume that just because your ancestor was Irish and in the British Army that was against his will. There was never any conscription and huge numbers of Irish people joined the British armed forces. Indeed during WW2, a third of the recently created Irish Army effectively deserted and joined the British Army in order to fight the Nazis. Link here to an article explaining how many of the Irish Army were penalized for that but eventually given an amnesty:
https://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-world-war-2-veterans-immunity-amnesty…
The relationship between Britain & Ireland is complex. Suffice to say that in spite of wishing to be a separate nation for hundreds of years, many Irish joined the British armed forces in the 1800s and continued to do so as recently as WW2. Some still do today. (There isn’t a family in Ireland that doesn’t have relatives in Britain. Are they Irish or British? There’s a whole separate discussion about this that is probably best outside this forum).
Perhaps you may have got as far back as is possible. But there are many professional researchers who might be able to help you. Ask them. Researchers in the PRONI area: http://sgni.net
If you are visiting Ireland, let us know. Depending on where you plan to go, we may be able to provide someone to meet you.
