A lot of records are held in Dublin at various places including land records. The fire at Dublin Castle destroyed a lot of the early records.
The National Archives in Kew, London hold Army pay lists. The Millitia was a popular in Ireland despite the propaganda otherwise. You can find misdemeanors and movements etc. I also found excise Officer records.
Catholic records start around 1845, but you may be lucky to find earlier Anglican records if they were of that persuasion.
The West of Ireland has Viking roots with many surnames ending with 'son.