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The 'Irish Mob', or 'Irish Mafia', is the oldest organized crime group in the United States, in existence since the early 19th century. Originating in Irish American street gangs, as immortalized by author Herbert Asbury's 1926 book ''The Gangs of New York'', the Irish Mob has appeared in most major American cities, including Boston (see The Charlestown Mob and The Winter Hill Gang), New York City (see The Westies), San Francisco, New Orleans, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Providence, Kansas City, St. Louis, Atlantic City, and Chicago. In Canada, the West End Gang of Montreal is a force in the city's underworld.
Internationally, Irish, English and Scottish cities including London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Dublin, Edinburgh, and Glasgow have all had a history of Irish gang activities.
Specifically in Australia, Melbourne has a long history of Irish organized crime stemming from the poor Irish Catholic working classes. Many Melbourne trade unions have been infiltrated or brought under the mob's control. Originating from waterfront workers in the Melbourne docklands after World War II, they controlled a large part of the drug trade until the old Painters and Dockers Union was disbanded in 1984. Since the late 1990s, the Moran family is one of the more powerful Irish crime families in Melbourne and allegedly played a significant role in the 1998-2006 Melbourne gangland killings.
Boston has a well-chronicled history of Irish mafia activity, particularly in the heavily Irish-American neighborhoods like Somerville, Charlestown, and South Boston ("Southie") where the earliest Irish gangsters arose during Prohibition. Frank Wallace of the Gustin Gang dominated Boston's underworld until his death in 1931, when he was ambushed by Italian gangsters in the North End (the death of Jewish bootlegger Charles "King" Solomon in 1933 would ensure control of Boston's underworld by North End mobster Philip Bruccola until 1954). Numerous gang wars between rival Irish gangs during the early and mid 20th century would contribute to their decline.
The Winter Hill Gang, a loose confederation of Boston-area organized crime figures, was one of the most successful organized crime groups in American history which controlled the Boston underworld from the early sixties until the mid nineties. It derives its name from the Winter Hill neighborhood of Somerville, Massachusetts, north of Boston and was founded by first boss James "Buddy" McLean. Another major member was Nicholas "ragin Indian" McGibbon.
While Winter Hill Gang members were alleged to have been involved with most typical organized crime related activities, they are perhaps best known for fixing horse races in the northeastern United States. Twenty-one members and associates, including Bulger's predecessor Howie Winter, were indicted by federal prosecutors in 1979.
The gang was then taken over by James J. "Whitey" Bulger and hitman Stephen J. "The Rifleman" Flemmi, who was of both Irish and Italian heritage.
The Winter Hill Gang also played a central role in the Boston Irish Mob Wars of the 1960s between Winter Hill leader James McLean and Bernard McLaughlin's Charlestown Mob.
The Irish Mob Wars were conflicts in throughout the 1960s between the two dominant Irish-American organized crime gangs in Massachusetts: the Charlestown Mob in Boston, led by brothers Bernard and Edward "Punchy" McLaughlin, and the Winter Hill Gang of Somerville (just north of Boston) headed by James "Buddy" McLean. The war resulted in the eradication of the Charlestown Mob with all its leaders having been either killed or put in prison and the death of Buddy McLean, who was succeeded by his right hand man, Howie Winter. The remnants of the Charlestown Mob were then absorbed into the Winter Hill Gang, who were then able to become the dominant Irish Mob in the New England area.
During the 1970s and 80s, the FBI's Boston office was largely infiltrated through corrupt federal agent John J. Connolly, by which Whitey Bulger was able to use his status as a government informant against his rivals (the extent of which would not be revealed until the mid to late 1990s). This was the basis for the book ''Black Mass''. (See below)
The Winter Hill Gang, or whats left of it, is still believed to be operating but keeping a very low profile. George Hogan is believed to be the present boss.
During the ''Gangs of New York'' era, countless Irish-American street gangs such as the Forty Thieves, Dead Rabbits and the Whyos dominated New York's underworld for well over a century before facing competition from others, primarily recently arriving Italian and Jewish gangs during the 1880s and 90s. Although gang leaders such as Monk Eastman of the Eastmans and Paul Kelly of the Five Points Gang would rise to prominence during the early 1900s, others such as the Hudson Dusters and the Gopher Gang would remain formidable rivals during the period. The strongest of them all is said to be Samuel Guard II, the "Don" of the "Stewarts Clan."
However, with the emergence of Italian criminal organizations such as the Morello crime family and the Black Hand gangs encroaching on the long Irish-held New York waterfront, the various Irish gangs which had plagued the area for decades united to form the White Hand Gang during the early-1900s. Although initially successful in keeping their Italian rivals at bay, its unstable leadership and infighting would prove the gang's downfall as the murders of Dennis "Dinny" Meehan, "Wild" Bill Lovett and Richard "Peg Leg" Lonergan would cause the White Hand to disappear by the mid-1920s as the waterfront was taken over by the Italian mobsters Vincent Mangano, Albert "Mad Hatter" Anastasia, and Joe Adonis.
During the early years of Prohibition, "Big" Bill Dwyer emerged among many in New York's underworld as a leading bootlegger. However, following his arrest and trial for violation of the Volsted Act during 1925 and 1926, Dwyer's former partners were split between Owney "The Killer" Madden, a former leader of the Gopher Gang, and Frank Costello (born '''Francesco Castigglia''') against Jack "Legs" Diamond, "Little" Augie Pisano, Charles "Vannie" Higgins and renegade mobster Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll.
The Westies is the name of an organized crime gang hailing from the West Side of Manhattan, New York City, in particular from around the Hell's Kitchen area. They were predominantly Irish American.
The most prominent members have included Edward O'Neill, James Coonan, Mickey Featherstone, and Samuel Guard II. During the late 1970s they forged a loose alliance with the Gambino crime family, the Mafia faction then led by Paul Castellano. Coonan was also associated with Roy DeMeo, and DeMeo is thought to have murdered the previous Westie boss Mickey Spillane (no relation to the author of the same name) in order to let Coonan become the leader.
Coonan was imprisoned in 1986 under the RICO act, along with multiple charges of murder. Coonan had let his wife, Edna, become involved in his affairs, and she too was imprisoned. Coonan was alleged to have been linked to Samuel Guard II.
Mickey Featherstone became an informant after his arrest in the early 1980s.
Little is known about Edward O'Neill except for the fact that he seemed to be an unofficial leader of sorts who could have information about him disappear without a trace. To this day it is unknown where the O'Neill family has spread.
The Irish-American gangster Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll is sometimes named as an early member of the Westies, although the solitary nature of his actions often leaves him outside any specific gang.
In the years following World War II, the Northeast Philly Mob, also known as The K&A Gang, was the dominant Irish gang in the city's underworld. A multi-generational organized crime group made up of predominantly Irish and Irish American gangsters, the Philly Mob originated from a youth street gang based around the intersections of Kensington and Allegheny, which grew in power as local hoods and blue collar Irish Americans seeking extra income joined its ranks. In time, the group expanded and grew more organized, establishing lucrative markets in gambling, loan sharking, and burglary.
The group shifted gears in the 1980s and expanded into neighborhoods beyond Kensington. It was during this time that Italian Mafioso Ray Matorano, and over 36 others were indicted for their alleged involvement in a large methamphetamine ring.
The group continued into the 1990s without much publicity. It's alleged they were involved in hits and attempted hits of certain Italian Mafia figures, however these claims are uncertain..
In the 2000s, the group has remained very much under the radar after the testimony from informants such as the murtaugh brothers and David Criniti and some speculate they reduced their activities immensely. In 2002 Ray Matorano, upon his release from prison, forged a plan to take over the Philadelphia Mafia. To this end, he requested backing from the Five New York Families and enlisted the help of various biker gangs, including the Pagans and Warlocks. It was also alleged he had hired a couple dozen hitmen from the Northeast Philly Mob for the forthcoming mob war. When Ray Matorano was shot and killed on the way to his doctor's office, the war had ended before it got off the ground.
The group is known to have links to the Italian Mafia, the Irish Republican Army, Biker gangs, the Roofers Union, the Polish Mob, The Jewish Mob and various independent drug and hijacking gangs of various European ethnicities.
Prominent former and current members include:
★ Willam Harding Jr. AKA [Billy Shamrock]
★ The Kirby Brothers
★ Joseph Wigerman
★ Edward Burke
★ Francis Brewer
★ Chick Goodroe
★ Lester Joseph Gillisis Baby Face Nelson
★ Edward Falkner (Dixie Mafia)
★ Carlton C Russell (Dixie Mafia)
★ Will Snell (Dixie Mafia)
The successors of Michael Cassius McDonald's criminal empire of the previous century, the Irish-American criminal organizations in Chicago were at their peak during Prohibition, specializing in bootlegging and highjacking. However, they would soon be rivaled by Jewish and Italian mobsters, particularly Al Capone and his Chicago Outfit.
The organizations existing before Prohibition included the North Side Gang, which included Dion "Deanie" O'Banion, George "Bugs" Moran, and Louis "Two-Gun" Alterie, the Southside O'Donnell Brothers, the Westside O'Donnell's, Ragen's Colts, the Valley Gang, Roger Touhy, Frank McErlane and James "Big Jim" O'Leary; all were in competition with Capone for control of the bootlegging market and all lost to Capone and the Italians.
'EAST'
★ Several prominent gangsters adopted Irish surnames including Italian mobsters Paul Kelly, "Machine Gun" Jack McGurn, Frank Costello and Polish gangster Mickey Duffy who dominated the underworld of Atlantic City, New Jersey throughout the 1920s until his death by Italian mobsters in the early 1930s.
★ Daniel O'Leary would fight with Maxie "Boo-Hoo" Hoff over control of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's bootlegging throughout Prohibition.
★ Boston born mobster Ruaraidh 'The General' Fitzpatrick, killed the informer, Arthur MacLynus in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal and then had his body cast into the street in front of the police station with the murder weapon, (a pistol), protruding from the deceased's mouth.
★ Providence-based bootlegger Danny Walsh, an early member of the "Seven Group", was known as one of the leading organized crime figures on the east coast until his disappearance in February 1933.
'CENTRAL'
★ In Cleveland, mobster Danny Greene and John Nardi fought for control over the cities underworld against James Licavoli during the late 1970s.
★ John Patrick Looney controlled bootlegging and extortion in Rock Island, Illinois until his eventual arrest, after a two year manhunt, in 1924.
★ Egan's Rats ruled over St. Louis criminal operations until the early 1930s.
'SOUTH'
★ George Horace (Kid) McCoy held the Jefferson County and Shelby County, Alabama underworld under his control in 1920s - 30's until Donald "Little Man" Popwell had McCoy killed on December 24, 1938 at a Christmas Party in Bessemer, Alabama.
★ Shelby County, Alabama Sheriff C.P. "Red" Walker was an ally of the Shelby County Irish Mafia from 1953-1982.
★ Birmingham, Alabama- Organized Crime Boss Carlton C Russell "The General" was named boss of the Celtics in Alabama by New Orleans Commission, soon "The General" would order the hit of Georgia's Celtic Boss, Roy Sirus. The murder is currently a cold case file in the Fulton County Sheriff's files. A Grand Jury failed to take action in the case (2002).
★ Savannah, Georgia- Local Boss Johnny Bouhan, an attorney, held significant influence over county and city government until the late 1960's. Was loosely allied with the Dixie Mafia but a falling-out after Bouhan's death led to the arson of his law firm, Bouhan, Williams, and Levy. This was widely believed to be a retaliation for the law firm filing suit against a Toombs County, Georgia judge who was a leader in the Dixie Mafia.
'NORTH'
★ The twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have also been the base for several colorful Irish-American gangsters. During Prohibition, St. Paul's underworld was ruled over by "Dapper" Danny Hogan prior to his murder in 1928. In Minneapolis, his equivalents were "Big" Ed Morgan and Thomas W. Banks.
'EUROPE'
★ In Glasgow, Patrick O'Meara, a previously unknown footsoldier famously killed local mobster, Declan O'Sullivan, about which the song O'Meara's Grace, was written. O'Meara then rose to become one of Glasgow's top gangsters.
★ In Newry in 1932, Irish mobster Michael McCarthy shot the then local Crime Boss (and anti-partition IRA leader), Aodh MacCarthai on the steps of Newry Police Station as he was being released after questioning.
Early Irish mob films, referred to as "The Mob", first appeared during the early "gangster" films of the 1930s and film noir of the 1940s identified by actors such as James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Frank McHugh, Ralph Bellamy, Spencer Tracy, Lynne Overman, Frank Morgan popularly known as the "Irish Mafia" (although Bellamy and Overman were not of Irish descent) as well as stars including Humphrey Bogart and Edward G. Robinson.
★ ''Underworld'' (1927), Prohibition gangster Bull Weed (George Bancroft) befriends a down and out former district attorney "Rolls Royce" Wensel (Clive Brook). However, as he is helped back on his feet, the two begin fighting over the gun moll known as Feathers McCoy (Evelyn Brent).
★ ''The Racket'' (1928), As Chicago police officer Captain James McQuigg (Thomas Meighan) matches wits with bootlegger Nick Scarsi (Louis Wolheim), their rivalry threatens to uncover the secret mastermind running "The Organization", a criminal syndicate running Chicago.
★ ''The Public Enemy'' (1931), Played by James Cagney in his film debut, Tom Powers is a Prohibition bootlegger whose older brother Michael (Donald Cook) attempts to reform the gangster while he fights his way to the top of the underworld.
★ ''Angels with Dirty Faces'' (1938), After former mob boss Rocky Sullivan (James Cagney) returns to New York's Hell's Kitchen, former childhood friend, Father Jerry Connolly (Pat O'Brien) tries to save him from himself.
★ ''On the Waterfront'' (1954) - After witnessing the murder of a fellow longshoreman, Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) must choose sides between his brother Charlie (Rod Steiger) and mobbed up union boss Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb) against crusading priest Father Barry (Karl Malden) and Edie Doyle (Eva Marie Saint).
★ ''St. Valentine's Day Massacre'' (1967), Director Roger Corman's retelling of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre stars Jason Robards as Al Capone, Ralph Meeker as Bugs Moran, and an appearance by George Segal and Jack Nicholson.
★ ''The Sting'' (1973), Con artists Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) and Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) attempt to swindle Irish mob boss Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw).
★ ''The Long Good Friday'' (1980) The main character, a boss in the British criminal underworld, runs afoul with the Irish Mob and the Irish Republican Army.
★ ''Miller's Crossing'' (1990), Irish gangster Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne) tries to prevent a gang war between Irish boss Leo O'Bannion (Albert Finney) and Johnny Casper (Jon Polito) co-starring John Turturro as Bernie Bernbaum and Marcia Gay Harden as Verna Bernbaum.
★ ''State of Grace'' (1990), Undercover officer Terry Noonan (Sean Penn) returns to Hell's Kitchen to infiltrate The Westies which include childhood friend Jackie Flannery (Gary Oldman) and neighborhood mob boss Frankie Flannery (Ed Harris).
★ ''Last Man Standing'' (1996), Wandering gunman John Smith (Bruce Willis) becomes involved in a gang war between Irish gangster Doyle (David Patrick Kelly) and Italian mobster Fredo Strozzi (Ned Eisenberg) in the small town of Jericho, Texas.
★ ''Monument Ave.'' (1998) In Charlestown, Massachusetts, a charismatic mob enforcer (Denis Leary) must decide whether to abide by the neighborhood code of silence when his boss (Colm Meaney) begins murdering members of his family.
★ ''Southie'' (1998)
★ ''The Boondock Saints'' (1999) Two brothers from South Boston wage a private war against the Russian and Italian Mafia.
★ ''Hardball'' (2001) Keanu Reeves plays a character in-debt to violent Irish-American bookies in a Chicago enclave
★ ''Gangs of New York'' (2002) Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis, this movie showcases the criminal underworld of the Five Points neighborhood in Manhattan, predominantly during the 1860s.
★ ''Ash Wednesday'' (2002), Edward Burns wrote, directed, and starred in movie about Irish gangsters in New York City's Hell's Kitchen.
★ ''Road to Perdition'' (2002), Based on the graphic novel by Max Allan Collins, Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks) finds himself on the run from former boss John Roony (Paul Newman), loosely based on Irish gangster John Patrick Looney, after his son witnesses a gangland slaying.
★ ''Death to Smoochy'' (2002), The Irish mob is painted as being in control of a children's TV network and eventually builds an alliance with a formerly idealistic performer (Edward Norton).
★ ''Dirty Deeds'' (2002), Set in 1969, Irish-Australian gangsters, led by Barry Ryan, run the slot machines in Sydney, Australia. They find themselves pitted against rival Sydney gangsters and even the U.S. Cosa Nostra who all want control of the underworld gambling rings.
★ '' (2003) One of the main villains is affiliated with the Irish mob.
★ ''A History of Violence'' (2005), Film featuring gang members from Philadelphia.
★ ''The Departed'' (2006), Film about the Irish Mob in South Boston, Massachusetts, and their rivalry with the Massachusetts State Police.
★ ''Dead I Well May Be'' (2007), Set in 1990s New York City, an Irish immigrant lands a job as a mob enforcer.
★ ''Emerald City'' (2008), Film about Irish gangs in Hell's Kitchen directed by Jim Sheridan. Also, the screenplay will be done by Lukas Reiter
★ ''Brotherhood'' (2006), Set in Providence, Rhode Island, this TV show revolves around the unlikely alliance between two Irish-American brothers. Michael Caffee, played by Jason Isaacs, is an aspiring mob boss and Tommy Cafee is one of the State's most powerful politicians. The show has modeled itself on the The Sopranos, with which it shares a similar moral grey area. It has developed a cult following, causing Showtime to renew it for another 10 episode season. Season 2 will debut in 2007.
★ ''The Black Donnellys'' (2007), a canceled crime drama on NBC that follows four young Irish brothers in New York’s infamous Hell's Kitchen neighborhood and their involvement in organized crime.
★ '' (2006), a documentary stating the rise and fall of the Irish mafia, which includes the Irish mob's alleged involvement with the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
★ ''All Souls'', Author Michael Patrick MacDonald tell the story of his life in South Boston during the reign of Irish mobster Whitey Bulger.
★ ''Street Soldier'', Edward "Eddie Mac" McKenzie tells the story of his violent past as an enforcer for the Boston Irish Mob.
★ ''The General'', written by Joe Flemmi telling the story of the life of Ruaraidh 'The General' Fitzpatrick, Irish mob boss and of his rise to power within the group that became known as the Irish Mafia.
★ ''Black Mass'', by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill, tells the story of the alliance between the FBI and James J. Bulger.
★ ''Legends of Winter Hill'' (2005), About Somerville, Massachusetts Police officer Joe McCain and his life during the 1960s as a cop during the Irish Mob Wars.
★ ''The Brothers Bulger'', Veteran Boston Herald reporter Howie Carr tells the story about the rise of power to the longtime Massachusetts senate president Billy Bulger and his brother "Whitey" who took over the Irish mob. Carr never lets the truth get in the way of a good story.
★ '', Kevin Weeks tells his story of the time he spent as an enforcer and close associate of Boston crime boss Whitey Bulger.
★ ''Rat Bastards'', by John "Red" Shea, The story of John Shea (mobster), once one of the most powerful Irish mobsters from South Boston. He was Whitey Bulger's Lieutenant in the Winter Hill Gang who controlled the drug trade for the gang until his arrest in 1992.
★ ''The Westies'', by T.J. English, The story of the Hell's Kitchen Irish Mob that terrorized the Westside of Manhattan since the early 1900's up until the fall of James Coonan, a prominent Irish mob boss and leader of The Westies.
★ '', by T.J. English follows the evolution of the Irish-American underworld, and their struggles with the more powerful Italian Mafia.
★ Downey, Patrick. ''Gangster City: The History of the New York Underworld, 1900-1935''. Barricade Books, 2004. ISBN 1-56980-267-X
★ English, T.J. ''Paddy Whacked: The Untold Story of the Irish American Gangster''. New York: HarperCollins, 2005. ISBN 0-06-059002-5
★ Jacobs, James B., Coleen Friel and Robert Radick. ''Gotham Unbound: How New York City Was Liberated from the Grip of Organized Crime''. New York: NYU Press, 1999. ISBN 0-8147-4247-5
★ Porrello, Rick. ''To Kill the Irishman: The War that Crippled the Mafia''. Novelty, Ohio: Next Hat Press, 2004. ISBN 0-9662508-9-3
★ Hornblum, Allen. "Confessions of a Second Story Man: Junior Kripplebauer and the K&A Gang"
★ List of Irish-American mobsters
★ American Organized Crime - Irish Gangsters
Internationally, Irish, English and Scottish cities including London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Dublin, Edinburgh, and Glasgow have all had a history of Irish gang activities.
Specifically in Australia, Melbourne has a long history of Irish organized crime stemming from the poor Irish Catholic working classes. Many Melbourne trade unions have been infiltrated or brought under the mob's control. Originating from waterfront workers in the Melbourne docklands after World War II, they controlled a large part of the drug trade until the old Painters and Dockers Union was disbanded in 1984. Since the late 1990s, the Moran family is one of the more powerful Irish crime families in Melbourne and allegedly played a significant role in the 1998-2006 Melbourne gangland killings.
Boston
Prohibition
Boston has a well-chronicled history of Irish mafia activity, particularly in the heavily Irish-American neighborhoods like Somerville, Charlestown, and South Boston ("Southie") where the earliest Irish gangsters arose during Prohibition. Frank Wallace of the Gustin Gang dominated Boston's underworld until his death in 1931, when he was ambushed by Italian gangsters in the North End (the death of Jewish bootlegger Charles "King" Solomon in 1933 would ensure control of Boston's underworld by North End mobster Philip Bruccola until 1954). Numerous gang wars between rival Irish gangs during the early and mid 20th century would contribute to their decline.
The Winter Hill Gang
The Winter Hill Gang, a loose confederation of Boston-area organized crime figures, was one of the most successful organized crime groups in American history which controlled the Boston underworld from the early sixties until the mid nineties. It derives its name from the Winter Hill neighborhood of Somerville, Massachusetts, north of Boston and was founded by first boss James "Buddy" McLean. Another major member was Nicholas "ragin Indian" McGibbon.
While Winter Hill Gang members were alleged to have been involved with most typical organized crime related activities, they are perhaps best known for fixing horse races in the northeastern United States. Twenty-one members and associates, including Bulger's predecessor Howie Winter, were indicted by federal prosecutors in 1979.
The gang was then taken over by James J. "Whitey" Bulger and hitman Stephen J. "The Rifleman" Flemmi, who was of both Irish and Italian heritage.
The Winter Hill Gang also played a central role in the Boston Irish Mob Wars of the 1960s between Winter Hill leader James McLean and Bernard McLaughlin's Charlestown Mob.
Irish Mob Wars
The Irish Mob Wars were conflicts in throughout the 1960s between the two dominant Irish-American organized crime gangs in Massachusetts: the Charlestown Mob in Boston, led by brothers Bernard and Edward "Punchy" McLaughlin, and the Winter Hill Gang of Somerville (just north of Boston) headed by James "Buddy" McLean. The war resulted in the eradication of the Charlestown Mob with all its leaders having been either killed or put in prison and the death of Buddy McLean, who was succeeded by his right hand man, Howie Winter. The remnants of the Charlestown Mob were then absorbed into the Winter Hill Gang, who were then able to become the dominant Irish Mob in the New England area.
Recent years
During the 1970s and 80s, the FBI's Boston office was largely infiltrated through corrupt federal agent John J. Connolly, by which Whitey Bulger was able to use his status as a government informant against his rivals (the extent of which would not be revealed until the mid to late 1990s). This was the basis for the book ''Black Mass''. (See below)
The Winter Hill Gang, or whats left of it, is still believed to be operating but keeping a very low profile. George Hogan is believed to be the present boss.
New York
Pre-prohibition
During the ''Gangs of New York'' era, countless Irish-American street gangs such as the Forty Thieves, Dead Rabbits and the Whyos dominated New York's underworld for well over a century before facing competition from others, primarily recently arriving Italian and Jewish gangs during the 1880s and 90s. Although gang leaders such as Monk Eastman of the Eastmans and Paul Kelly of the Five Points Gang would rise to prominence during the early 1900s, others such as the Hudson Dusters and the Gopher Gang would remain formidable rivals during the period. The strongest of them all is said to be Samuel Guard II, the "Don" of the "Stewarts Clan."
However, with the emergence of Italian criminal organizations such as the Morello crime family and the Black Hand gangs encroaching on the long Irish-held New York waterfront, the various Irish gangs which had plagued the area for decades united to form the White Hand Gang during the early-1900s. Although initially successful in keeping their Italian rivals at bay, its unstable leadership and infighting would prove the gang's downfall as the murders of Dennis "Dinny" Meehan, "Wild" Bill Lovett and Richard "Peg Leg" Lonergan would cause the White Hand to disappear by the mid-1920s as the waterfront was taken over by the Italian mobsters Vincent Mangano, Albert "Mad Hatter" Anastasia, and Joe Adonis.
Prohibition in New York
During the early years of Prohibition, "Big" Bill Dwyer emerged among many in New York's underworld as a leading bootlegger. However, following his arrest and trial for violation of the Volsted Act during 1925 and 1926, Dwyer's former partners were split between Owney "The Killer" Madden, a former leader of the Gopher Gang, and Frank Costello (born '''Francesco Castigglia''') against Jack "Legs" Diamond, "Little" Augie Pisano, Charles "Vannie" Higgins and renegade mobster Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll.
The post-war years and the Westies
The Westies is the name of an organized crime gang hailing from the West Side of Manhattan, New York City, in particular from around the Hell's Kitchen area. They were predominantly Irish American.
The most prominent members have included Edward O'Neill, James Coonan, Mickey Featherstone, and Samuel Guard II. During the late 1970s they forged a loose alliance with the Gambino crime family, the Mafia faction then led by Paul Castellano. Coonan was also associated with Roy DeMeo, and DeMeo is thought to have murdered the previous Westie boss Mickey Spillane (no relation to the author of the same name) in order to let Coonan become the leader.
Coonan was imprisoned in 1986 under the RICO act, along with multiple charges of murder. Coonan had let his wife, Edna, become involved in his affairs, and she too was imprisoned. Coonan was alleged to have been linked to Samuel Guard II.
Mickey Featherstone became an informant after his arrest in the early 1980s.
Little is known about Edward O'Neill except for the fact that he seemed to be an unofficial leader of sorts who could have information about him disappear without a trace. To this day it is unknown where the O'Neill family has spread.
The Irish-American gangster Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll is sometimes named as an early member of the Westies, although the solitary nature of his actions often leaves him outside any specific gang.
Philadelphia
Post-WWII
In the years following World War II, the Northeast Philly Mob, also known as The K&A Gang, was the dominant Irish gang in the city's underworld. A multi-generational organized crime group made up of predominantly Irish and Irish American gangsters, the Philly Mob originated from a youth street gang based around the intersections of Kensington and Allegheny, which grew in power as local hoods and blue collar Irish Americans seeking extra income joined its ranks. In time, the group expanded and grew more organized, establishing lucrative markets in gambling, loan sharking, and burglary.
The group shifted gears in the 1980s and expanded into neighborhoods beyond Kensington. It was during this time that Italian Mafioso Ray Matorano, and over 36 others were indicted for their alleged involvement in a large methamphetamine ring.
Recent years
The group continued into the 1990s without much publicity. It's alleged they were involved in hits and attempted hits of certain Italian Mafia figures, however these claims are uncertain..
In the 2000s, the group has remained very much under the radar after the testimony from informants such as the murtaugh brothers and David Criniti and some speculate they reduced their activities immensely. In 2002 Ray Matorano, upon his release from prison, forged a plan to take over the Philadelphia Mafia. To this end, he requested backing from the Five New York Families and enlisted the help of various biker gangs, including the Pagans and Warlocks. It was also alleged he had hired a couple dozen hitmen from the Northeast Philly Mob for the forthcoming mob war. When Ray Matorano was shot and killed on the way to his doctor's office, the war had ended before it got off the ground.
The group is known to have links to the Italian Mafia, the Irish Republican Army, Biker gangs, the Roofers Union, the Polish Mob, The Jewish Mob and various independent drug and hijacking gangs of various European ethnicities.
Prominent former and current members include:
★ Willam Harding Jr. AKA [Billy Shamrock]
★ The Kirby Brothers
★ Joseph Wigerman
★ Edward Burke
★ Francis Brewer
★ Chick Goodroe
★ Lester Joseph Gillisis Baby Face Nelson
★ Edward Falkner (Dixie Mafia)
★ Carlton C Russell (Dixie Mafia)
★ Will Snell (Dixie Mafia)
Chicago
Prohibition
The successors of Michael Cassius McDonald's criminal empire of the previous century, the Irish-American criminal organizations in Chicago were at their peak during Prohibition, specializing in bootlegging and highjacking. However, they would soon be rivaled by Jewish and Italian mobsters, particularly Al Capone and his Chicago Outfit.
The organizations existing before Prohibition included the North Side Gang, which included Dion "Deanie" O'Banion, George "Bugs" Moran, and Louis "Two-Gun" Alterie, the Southside O'Donnell Brothers, the Westside O'Donnell's, Ragen's Colts, the Valley Gang, Roger Touhy, Frank McErlane and James "Big Jim" O'Leary; all were in competition with Capone for control of the bootlegging market and all lost to Capone and the Italians.
Other cities
'EAST'
★ Several prominent gangsters adopted Irish surnames including Italian mobsters Paul Kelly, "Machine Gun" Jack McGurn, Frank Costello and Polish gangster Mickey Duffy who dominated the underworld of Atlantic City, New Jersey throughout the 1920s until his death by Italian mobsters in the early 1930s.
★ Daniel O'Leary would fight with Maxie "Boo-Hoo" Hoff over control of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's bootlegging throughout Prohibition.
★ Boston born mobster Ruaraidh 'The General' Fitzpatrick, killed the informer, Arthur MacLynus in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal and then had his body cast into the street in front of the police station with the murder weapon, (a pistol), protruding from the deceased's mouth.
★ Providence-based bootlegger Danny Walsh, an early member of the "Seven Group", was known as one of the leading organized crime figures on the east coast until his disappearance in February 1933.
'CENTRAL'
★ In Cleveland, mobster Danny Greene and John Nardi fought for control over the cities underworld against James Licavoli during the late 1970s.
★ John Patrick Looney controlled bootlegging and extortion in Rock Island, Illinois until his eventual arrest, after a two year manhunt, in 1924.
★ Egan's Rats ruled over St. Louis criminal operations until the early 1930s.
'SOUTH'
★ George Horace (Kid) McCoy held the Jefferson County and Shelby County, Alabama underworld under his control in 1920s - 30's until Donald "Little Man" Popwell had McCoy killed on December 24, 1938 at a Christmas Party in Bessemer, Alabama.
★ Shelby County, Alabama Sheriff C.P. "Red" Walker was an ally of the Shelby County Irish Mafia from 1953-1982.
★ Birmingham, Alabama- Organized Crime Boss Carlton C Russell "The General" was named boss of the Celtics in Alabama by New Orleans Commission, soon "The General" would order the hit of Georgia's Celtic Boss, Roy Sirus. The murder is currently a cold case file in the Fulton County Sheriff's files. A Grand Jury failed to take action in the case (2002).
★ Savannah, Georgia- Local Boss Johnny Bouhan, an attorney, held significant influence over county and city government until the late 1960's. Was loosely allied with the Dixie Mafia but a falling-out after Bouhan's death led to the arson of his law firm, Bouhan, Williams, and Levy. This was widely believed to be a retaliation for the law firm filing suit against a Toombs County, Georgia judge who was a leader in the Dixie Mafia.
'NORTH'
★ The twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have also been the base for several colorful Irish-American gangsters. During Prohibition, St. Paul's underworld was ruled over by "Dapper" Danny Hogan prior to his murder in 1928. In Minneapolis, his equivalents were "Big" Ed Morgan and Thomas W. Banks.
'EUROPE'
★ In Glasgow, Patrick O'Meara, a previously unknown footsoldier famously killed local mobster, Declan O'Sullivan, about which the song O'Meara's Grace, was written. O'Meara then rose to become one of Glasgow's top gangsters.
★ In Newry in 1932, Irish mobster Michael McCarthy shot the then local Crime Boss (and anti-partition IRA leader), Aodh MacCarthai on the steps of Newry Police Station as he was being released after questioning.
Irish mob in popular culture
Films
Early Irish mob films, referred to as "The Mob", first appeared during the early "gangster" films of the 1930s and film noir of the 1940s identified by actors such as James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Frank McHugh, Ralph Bellamy, Spencer Tracy, Lynne Overman, Frank Morgan popularly known as the "Irish Mafia" (although Bellamy and Overman were not of Irish descent) as well as stars including Humphrey Bogart and Edward G. Robinson.
★ ''Underworld'' (1927), Prohibition gangster Bull Weed (George Bancroft) befriends a down and out former district attorney "Rolls Royce" Wensel (Clive Brook). However, as he is helped back on his feet, the two begin fighting over the gun moll known as Feathers McCoy (Evelyn Brent).
★ ''The Racket'' (1928), As Chicago police officer Captain James McQuigg (Thomas Meighan) matches wits with bootlegger Nick Scarsi (Louis Wolheim), their rivalry threatens to uncover the secret mastermind running "The Organization", a criminal syndicate running Chicago.
★ ''The Public Enemy'' (1931), Played by James Cagney in his film debut, Tom Powers is a Prohibition bootlegger whose older brother Michael (Donald Cook) attempts to reform the gangster while he fights his way to the top of the underworld.
★ ''Angels with Dirty Faces'' (1938), After former mob boss Rocky Sullivan (James Cagney) returns to New York's Hell's Kitchen, former childhood friend, Father Jerry Connolly (Pat O'Brien) tries to save him from himself.
★ ''On the Waterfront'' (1954) - After witnessing the murder of a fellow longshoreman, Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) must choose sides between his brother Charlie (Rod Steiger) and mobbed up union boss Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb) against crusading priest Father Barry (Karl Malden) and Edie Doyle (Eva Marie Saint).
★ ''St. Valentine's Day Massacre'' (1967), Director Roger Corman's retelling of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre stars Jason Robards as Al Capone, Ralph Meeker as Bugs Moran, and an appearance by George Segal and Jack Nicholson.
★ ''The Sting'' (1973), Con artists Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) and Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) attempt to swindle Irish mob boss Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw).
★ ''The Long Good Friday'' (1980) The main character, a boss in the British criminal underworld, runs afoul with the Irish Mob and the Irish Republican Army.
★ ''Miller's Crossing'' (1990), Irish gangster Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne) tries to prevent a gang war between Irish boss Leo O'Bannion (Albert Finney) and Johnny Casper (Jon Polito) co-starring John Turturro as Bernie Bernbaum and Marcia Gay Harden as Verna Bernbaum.
★ ''State of Grace'' (1990), Undercover officer Terry Noonan (Sean Penn) returns to Hell's Kitchen to infiltrate The Westies which include childhood friend Jackie Flannery (Gary Oldman) and neighborhood mob boss Frankie Flannery (Ed Harris).
★ ''Last Man Standing'' (1996), Wandering gunman John Smith (Bruce Willis) becomes involved in a gang war between Irish gangster Doyle (David Patrick Kelly) and Italian mobster Fredo Strozzi (Ned Eisenberg) in the small town of Jericho, Texas.
★ ''Monument Ave.'' (1998) In Charlestown, Massachusetts, a charismatic mob enforcer (Denis Leary) must decide whether to abide by the neighborhood code of silence when his boss (Colm Meaney) begins murdering members of his family.
★ ''Southie'' (1998)
★ ''The Boondock Saints'' (1999) Two brothers from South Boston wage a private war against the Russian and Italian Mafia.
★ ''Hardball'' (2001) Keanu Reeves plays a character in-debt to violent Irish-American bookies in a Chicago enclave
★ ''Gangs of New York'' (2002) Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis, this movie showcases the criminal underworld of the Five Points neighborhood in Manhattan, predominantly during the 1860s.
★ ''Ash Wednesday'' (2002), Edward Burns wrote, directed, and starred in movie about Irish gangsters in New York City's Hell's Kitchen.
★ ''Road to Perdition'' (2002), Based on the graphic novel by Max Allan Collins, Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks) finds himself on the run from former boss John Roony (Paul Newman), loosely based on Irish gangster John Patrick Looney, after his son witnesses a gangland slaying.
★ ''Death to Smoochy'' (2002), The Irish mob is painted as being in control of a children's TV network and eventually builds an alliance with a formerly idealistic performer (Edward Norton).
★ ''Dirty Deeds'' (2002), Set in 1969, Irish-Australian gangsters, led by Barry Ryan, run the slot machines in Sydney, Australia. They find themselves pitted against rival Sydney gangsters and even the U.S. Cosa Nostra who all want control of the underworld gambling rings.
★ '' (2003) One of the main villains is affiliated with the Irish mob.
★ ''A History of Violence'' (2005), Film featuring gang members from Philadelphia.
★ ''The Departed'' (2006), Film about the Irish Mob in South Boston, Massachusetts, and their rivalry with the Massachusetts State Police.
★ ''Dead I Well May Be'' (2007), Set in 1990s New York City, an Irish immigrant lands a job as a mob enforcer.
★ ''Emerald City'' (2008), Film about Irish gangs in Hell's Kitchen directed by Jim Sheridan. Also, the screenplay will be done by Lukas Reiter
Television
★ ''Brotherhood'' (2006), Set in Providence, Rhode Island, this TV show revolves around the unlikely alliance between two Irish-American brothers. Michael Caffee, played by Jason Isaacs, is an aspiring mob boss and Tommy Cafee is one of the State's most powerful politicians. The show has modeled itself on the The Sopranos, with which it shares a similar moral grey area. It has developed a cult following, causing Showtime to renew it for another 10 episode season. Season 2 will debut in 2007.
★ ''The Black Donnellys'' (2007), a canceled crime drama on NBC that follows four young Irish brothers in New York’s infamous Hell's Kitchen neighborhood and their involvement in organized crime.
★ '' (2006), a documentary stating the rise and fall of the Irish mafia, which includes the Irish mob's alleged involvement with the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
Books
★ ''All Souls'', Author Michael Patrick MacDonald tell the story of his life in South Boston during the reign of Irish mobster Whitey Bulger.
★ ''Street Soldier'', Edward "Eddie Mac" McKenzie tells the story of his violent past as an enforcer for the Boston Irish Mob.
★ ''The General'', written by Joe Flemmi telling the story of the life of Ruaraidh 'The General' Fitzpatrick, Irish mob boss and of his rise to power within the group that became known as the Irish Mafia.
★ ''Black Mass'', by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill, tells the story of the alliance between the FBI and James J. Bulger.
★ ''Legends of Winter Hill'' (2005), About Somerville, Massachusetts Police officer Joe McCain and his life during the 1960s as a cop during the Irish Mob Wars.
★ ''The Brothers Bulger'', Veteran Boston Herald reporter Howie Carr tells the story about the rise of power to the longtime Massachusetts senate president Billy Bulger and his brother "Whitey" who took over the Irish mob. Carr never lets the truth get in the way of a good story.
★ '', Kevin Weeks tells his story of the time he spent as an enforcer and close associate of Boston crime boss Whitey Bulger.
★ ''Rat Bastards'', by John "Red" Shea, The story of John Shea (mobster), once one of the most powerful Irish mobsters from South Boston. He was Whitey Bulger's Lieutenant in the Winter Hill Gang who controlled the drug trade for the gang until his arrest in 1992.
★ ''The Westies'', by T.J. English, The story of the Hell's Kitchen Irish Mob that terrorized the Westside of Manhattan since the early 1900's up until the fall of James Coonan, a prominent Irish mob boss and leader of The Westies.
★ '', by T.J. English follows the evolution of the Irish-American underworld, and their struggles with the more powerful Italian Mafia.
Further reading
★ Downey, Patrick. ''Gangster City: The History of the New York Underworld, 1900-1935''. Barricade Books, 2004. ISBN 1-56980-267-X
★ English, T.J. ''Paddy Whacked: The Untold Story of the Irish American Gangster''. New York: HarperCollins, 2005. ISBN 0-06-059002-5
★ Jacobs, James B., Coleen Friel and Robert Radick. ''Gotham Unbound: How New York City Was Liberated from the Grip of Organized Crime''. New York: NYU Press, 1999. ISBN 0-8147-4247-5
★ Porrello, Rick. ''To Kill the Irishman: The War that Crippled the Mafia''. Novelty, Ohio: Next Hat Press, 2004. ISBN 0-9662508-9-3
★ Hornblum, Allen. "Confessions of a Second Story Man: Junior Kripplebauer and the K&A Gang"
See also
★ List of Irish-American mobsters
External links
★ American Organized Crime - Irish Gangsters
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