Was it an honest mistake or was it that most Irish emigrated to Boston Massachusetts? I always thought it was akin to an earlier line in the movie where Michaleen says that all Americans are millionaires. It's just what was believed in Ireland at the time?
shareBoth. A lot of Irish did emigrate to Boston (go Celtics) but he could just as easily have said New York. As to the mistake either Michilín's character never having heard of Philadelphia genuinely thought Pittsburgh was in Massachusetts or didn't know where it was so went with Massachusetts anyway. It didn't matter so long as he came across important.
It was believed America was the land of opportunity and so yes it was believed Americans were invariably wealthy.
Hey! You're not old enough to drink! Now go and die for your country!!!