The IRELAND family is listerd in the 1881 Census as follows:
Dwelling: Winalls Hill Lane End
Census Place: West Dean, Gloucester, England
Source: FHL Film 1342259 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 5225 Folio 20 Page 6
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Benjamin IRELAND M 65 M Stroud, Gloucester, England
Rel: Head
Occ: (Raily) Labourer On The Line
Hannah IRELAND M 59 F King Stanley, Gloucester, England
Rel: Wife
Joseph IRELAND U 29 M West Dean, Gloucester, England
Rel: Son
Occ: Coal Miner
Thomas IRELAND U 27 M West Dean, Gloucester, England
Rel: Son
Occ: Stoker At Coal Pit

Searching the database on the Castle Garden web site http://castlegarden.org/ produced the following:
THOMAS IRELAND Occupation Laborer
Age 28
Sex M
Literacy U
Arrived 1882-04-10
Origin England
Port Liverpool
Last Residence
Destination UNITED STATES
Plan Unknown
Ship Germanic
Passage Unknown

Hopefully a check of the 1890 US Census and 1891 UK Census will establish if this is your Thomas or not.

Cheers
Mike