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Quote from: knocnapog on Saturday 04 December 21 01:04 GMT (UK)

When working with Irish parish records one has to be prepared for many variations in spelling of certain surnames.  New arrivals, many of whom were illiterate, would provide their details by word of mouth, and shipping clerks then recorded these as they  interpreted them. Hence we have Currafin for Corofin etc.

I think Michael could well have been illiterate as he most likely was an agricultural labourer.  The name Currafin has been used for all the Australian writings I have seen regarding said Michael.  This includes his death and burial notices, obituary in various newspapers, and historical documents held at the National Library.  Do you know if it was written formally as Currafin at any time?  Just wanting to know before I go about correcting the name.  Thank you for alluding me to this.  Much appreciated.

I should refer you to the Corofin information page on the Clare Library website which gives the derivation of the name.
https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/corofin_history.htm

Several of the references at the top of the page give alternative spellings of the name, including Currofin.
Rather than "correcting" your various sources I would make note of the alternative spellings.

"There is a baptism record for Michael Molony, parents John Molony and Mary Whealon, Sponsors Conor Morony, Bridget Roughan 24 Aug 1850"

Thank you for this.  I am wondering about the spelling.  Would this be the way the Irish spelt those surnames or a direct interpretation from the original document?  The writing on the document is rather difficult to decipher.  It does look like a most promising possibility.  Once again Thanks.

When working with Irish parish records one has to be prepared for many variations in spelling of certain surnames. A parish may have two or even three priests, each with his own preference of the way some family names were spelt. Also, a loss in translation frequently occurred when an emigrant arrived in his new country. New arrivals, many of whom were illiterate, would provide their details by word of mouth, and shipping clerks then recorded these as they  interpreted them. Hence we have Currafin for Corofin etc.

Incidentally, you seemed a little uncertain in your original post about the exact date of Michael's arrival in NSW, but I see from the NSW digital shipping records that Michael Maloney(24) together with Mrs Maloney(23) and infant William arrived in Sydney from the USA on 9 Sep 1877 on board the Star of the West.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01r3g/

I rather suspect that there is lots more information to be extracted from the civil records at the irishgenealogy.ie website. Thompson is not such a common family name in Co Clare, so that makes your task much easier.
Then for all things to do with County Clare including Kildysart (Killadysert) exploration of the Clare Library website is a must.
https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/genealog.htm

On the Genealogy Page, top left of screen, click on Forums, then it's a simple matter to join the Clare Past Forum, where you can post your query.

Hi John
I suggest that you check out the Rath/Killinaboy transcribed baptism register at
http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/don_tran/bmd/baptism_records_rath_killinaboy_1819-1881.htm
I found the following baptisms for Joannes(John) Geran and Margarita Flanagan
John 1832
Brigid 1833
Joseph 1839
Michael 1840
Be sure to check various spellings and compare transcriptions to original microfilm entries.

If you go to the following link
http://www.ourlibrary.ca/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6884
and download these transcriptions kindly donated by Sheila Duddy of the Clare Past Forum:
Ruan-Dysart Baptisms 1845-1881 by father's surname.xlsx
In it you will find a bunch of Ballinger baptisms, including that of Ellen Ballinger in 1846, daughter of Stephen Ballinger and Ellen Fitzgerald.
If your John Henry was married in 1870, then he would fit well in this family.