In Frank McCourt?s Angela?s Ashes the reasons for which Angela and her future husband left Ireland for New York were simple. Angela was sent to New York by her mother because she said Angela was worthless and there was plenty of room in America for useless people. As for Malachy, Angela?s future husband, he escaped to New York from Ireland because he had a price put on his head from fighting with the Old IRA. He became a fugitive and his only way out was to escape to America. Later af