Frank McCourt, the narrator of Angela's Ashes, seems to be a very strange fellow. He spends much of his day dreaming about what it would be like to be rich and have a father who does not drink the dole money away every week. He plays with his little brothers and makes them laugh when they are too hungry to play anymore. Frank even steals food from the stores and people's doorsteps to make sure that his family has enough food for the night. In reality, he has taken over the job of "man of the house" from his drunken father. "They scream at me and tell me I'm filthy. I try to explain to them that Mam has the disease and that I'm worn out trying to make ends meet, keeping the home fires burning, getting lemonade for Mam and bread for my brothers. There's no use telling them about the marmalade for they'll only scream again."
             Malachy McCourt, Frank's father, comes from the North of Ireland. Malachy claims he was in the Irish Republican Army and is forever bragging about how he "did his part" for Ireland. Because he is from the "Protestant" North, he is viewed with distrust by the Catholic citizens of Limerick Because of his accent, It is hard for him to get a job. He also suffers from the "Irish Problem"-- he is an alcoholic. When he does get a job, he works very hard until Friday. On Friday he gets his wages and goes to the pub, gets drunk, comes home singing "Kevin Barry" or "Roddy McCorley", sleeps until noon the next day, and is fired for being late. He leaves the family during World War II to work in an English factory. He sends no money home because he drinks it all in the pubs. He never comes back after the war has ended. One song that Malachy would sing is this:Up the narrow street he stepped
             There's never a tear in the blue eyes
             ...