I understand your dilemma! I am also looking for Holmes information in the same time period and location as your James and probably our lines connect at some point. However, because of the lack of documents available for the late 17th & 18th centuries of Ireland, developing a family unit from sketchy information is very difficult.
I have always been interested in the Holmes families from the eastern coast areas of Ireland because similar names found in records in this general area are in my Holmes lines. The areas of Islandmagee, Larne, Glenarm show an Alexander, Hugh, David, James and Andrew all from mid-1600's to mid-1700's. I'm sure both our lines connect with the above individuals somehow!
I just don't have access to information from these areas to be able to construct family groups. I am possibly looking for a David Holmes born between 1730-40 with a son Alexander (my ancestor, b. 1760-65). Don't know that my Alexander's father was David, but Alexander named his oldest son, David---that's all I have to go on.
If you have information on any of the above names and/or individual families and could provide any help, I would be most appreciative of your effort.
Thank you for any help & reply!