爱尔兰是个穷地方。土豆饥荒时期（十九世纪四十年代），一百六十万爱尔兰人逃到美国。

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McCourt was accused of greatly exaggerating his impoverished upbringing by many Limerickans, including Richard Harris. McCourt's own mother had denied the accuracy of his stories shortly before her death in 1981.