1798 rebel leaders

Recently i spotted on google earth road cam a stone memorial near Knockanure featuring the names William and Michael Clinch among others. The Kilrush parish sacramental records do not begin until 1840's. I would like to find earlier records. Were William and Michael brothers? Who were their parents? Did they have other siblings? Who was behind the 1998 memorial effort? Historical writers have referenced the genealogical work of Anthony Ryan who was writing between 1938 and 1949. Ryan links William to Fr. Thomas Clinch who was suspended by his bishop c.1796, became a rebel leader at Enniscorthy and died from wounds at Vinegar Hill the day of the battle. Ryan tells of another Clinch branch based at Cranemore, Co. Carlow. In 1798 George Clinch is the head of that family. According to Ryan, these three branches are all first cousins. The records at Clonegal seem to contain records for families living in Cranemore area, but those records start 1840's as well. I am descended from a John Clinch married to Ellenor according to her gravestone in Iowa, USA. The Clonegal records show a John Clinch marrying Ellen Malone in 1846, they have a son, William in October 1848. A ship's list from 1849 has John Clynch, wife Ellen, and infant arrivng New York in October. I think this is my Irish imigrant family. I would like to link this John and Ellen to the George - William - Michael Clinch/ Clynch/ Glinch people found in the sacramental records of Kilrush and Clonegal.however, the absence of records from the first three decades of the century proves to be an obstacle. Might there exist in the area some local folk tradition? Again, why do Willaim and Michael surface in the 1998 bicentenial memorial. The family must yet be remebered by some of the people of the area. Kevin Clinch New Mexico USA