On this episode of the Irish History Show John Dorney was joined by John Joe McGinley to discuss the Irish American Mob and orgainised crime from the 19th century onwards.
We speak about: the early gangs from the influx of Irish immigration after the Great Famine.
The Prohibition era when many Irish gangsters made fortunes and also their conflict with Italian crime organisations.
Famous Irish American criminals such as Vincent ‘Mad Dog’ Coll and Owney Madden.
The relationship of the ‘Irish mob’ with the broader Irish American community.
Later Irish gangs such as the ‘Westies’.
The demise of organised crime in the era of the RICO Act.
John Joe McGinley is a Donegal historian and a regular contributor to the Irish Story, Irish Central and Ireland’s Own. His book Irish Wise Guys is available here.
Intro / Outro music “Sliabh” from Aislinn. Licensed under creative commons from the free music archive.