Tom Hi
I also have early notes of a Thomas aged 29 at No 12 and a Michael & Moner down the road. I did wonder if they were related as this was quite early (51) and there weren't many Durkins about. On my notes (which are short) I have both Michael and Thomas as coming from Sligo and Moner from Mayo. I am not absolutely sure it is our Thomas, but the age does fit and I had corroborating evidence that our Thomas did come from Sligo. I didn't follow this angle either.
I did, though, just, check who was witness at Thomas and Barbara's wedding in November 53 and it wasn't Michael. (If it had been I would have noticed before though). However, having a Barbara Durkin as witness to a baptism is interesting.
What might be useful is looking in the church records for Ellen's birth in 1853 and a marriage for Michael and Ellen - as they came from different counties they may have married in York. If they did the record will give their parents names and residence. However, Sligo and Mayo have a border so it is possible they met and married in Ireland.
Names are interesting - as families often favoured similar names and we both have Thomas, Michael and Ellen. (I have seen one other Durkin family here early, with totally different names for them and their children) Clutching at straws maybe but it has given me the idea to check the parentage of an Ellen who died aged 3. I was always puzzled by the fact that Thom & Barbara's son Michael got married in 75 but the first child we found was born 78/79. Ellen who died aged 3 was born 76, that needs checking.
In a couple of weeks it is the Easter break here ( probably everywhere, it being Easter!!!!) & I will be on annual leave so will do some searches then.
Windy