No, there's no harm in asking, as you say you just never know!
One thing to consider is that 1833 could be when he was baptised, church kept baptism records so he COULD have got the date from that... just a thought.
I've to do research for someone in that area and in Cavan but won't be for a few weeks all I can do is keep an eye open for him. I haven't worked the McBride surname to see how/if they are related to each other so I can note any I come across, it's a very peripheral name on my tree and I haven't even looked on LDS for them.