I have had an email from Nova Scotia, Canada, suggesting the possibility that James' family originated in Co. Carlow rather than Kilkenny where James said he came from. Well worth exploring because Goresbridge is on the main road between Graiguenamanagh in Co. Carlow where I stayed last year, and passes through Borris on its way to Goresbridge, Paulstown and Thomastown, all places that have been researched so far. The bridge at Goresbridge is the point where the road passes from Co Carlow into Co Kilkenny. Don't know why I didn't think of this earlier, but certainly worth following up.
I am also rethinking the family names and what they might tell us. Somewhere along the line it has been said that James' father was also James Gorman, but I am not sure with what evidence. If true it would suggest that we have James, son of James, son of James, and with Irish naming practices, they would all be eldest sons. Walter James in Childers is the first variant, and thereafter James becomes the second name of several Gorman sons including Maurice James and Kevin James. What we actually can prove is that we have James b.1852, son of James, but third son, not eldest. Michael b 1837 is eldest, and Daniel b. 1841 is next.
If the family followed traditional naming practices, the eldest son, Michael b. 1837, is named for James' (b.1804) father, and the eldest daughter, Mary b. 1838 is named for James' mother. Daniel, the second son should be named for Ellen's father, and Catherine (twice) for Ellen's mother. James (b1852) would then be named for his own father, also James (1804), and Ellen, the next girl for her mother, also Ellen. This profile seems much more likely correct than the other, which is actually not supported by facts on the ground.
I think I should go through surviving records again looking for James Gorman born C1804, son of Michael and Mary Gorman, and Ellen Cahill born 1814 at Low Grange Kilkenny, daughter of Daniel and Catherine Cahill.
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