I know this post is 9 years old, but I would be interested in knowing more of your Neal ancestors. The furthest back I've gotten is James P. Neal b. 1798 in NC. I don't know where in NC, but he listed his parents as being from Virginia.

James moved to South Carolina, married a woman of Cherokee descent, then they moved with their children to Georgia. But he was from NC and his parents were from VA. Perhaps he didn't know about the Ireland connection.

James is my dead end. If you have any info that may connect him to your Ireland Neals that lived in VA and NC, even a thin thread, it would be something at least for me to research.