McDonough Family, possibly from County Sligo

My family has a great mystery.  "Where was James McDonough from and where did he go?"  Family legend says the McDonoughs were from County Cork, but recent information indicates that a relative was from County Sligo, which is more likely as many Irish folks who settled in the Rutland, Vermont area were from Sligo or Roscommon.

James McDonough is my great-great-great grandfather.  He married Mary Conlin and they had five children, including my great-great grandmother, Winifred McDonough.

James was a often in trouble with the law.  The hill in Rutland where his house was locted is called "Gouger Hill", named after James "the Gouger" McDonough, who apparently was involved in many drunken fights, one possibly ending in a man's eye being gouged out!

James and Mary's last child, James McDonough, Jr., was born in Rutland in 1857, which is approximately when James Sr. seems to have disappeared.  In the 1860 census, Mary is listed as head of household and in the 1880 census she is listed as "deserted".  She died in 1885 from falling down the stairs and her tombstone in the Old Catholic Cemetery in Rutland has only her name listed.

Family legend says that James returned to Ireland and had another family, but we have never been able to find definitive evidence of where he was from or where he went.  Other family members include, possibly a brother, Bryan McDonough, and possibly another brother, John McDonough, both of whom came to Rutland and had families.  Bryan is definitely related and John appears to be as his children were listed in family obituaries.  James' mother's name appears to be Ann.

Any information on this family would be greatly appreciated!  My email address is jsromano1@gmail.com.

Thank you!

John Romano