Irish-American Gangsters: A Broader History

The Roots of the Irish Mob

Irish-American gangsters emerged from the poverty and discrimination faced by Irish immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries. In cities like New York, Chicago, and Boston, Irish communities formed tight-knit enclaves where survival often meant bending the law. Gangs like the Dead Rabbits in the 1850s laid the groundwork for the Irish mob, blending street brawling with organized crime.

By the 20th century, the Irish mob had evolved, with figures like Jimmy Coonan in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen and Bugs Moran in Chicago leading the charge. Their operations—extortion, bootlegging, and murder—reflected the resilience and rebellion of their immigrant roots.

Jimmy Coonan and The Westies

In the 1970s, Jimmy Coonan redefined the Irish mob with The Westies, a gang that ruled Hell’s Kitchen with unmatched brutality. Known for their gruesome dismemberment tactics, The Westies carved out a niche in New York’s underworld, even forging an alliance with the Gambino crime family. Coonan’s leadership made him a legend, but his empire crumbled when his enforcer, Mickey Featherstone, turned informant.

Learn more about this partnership in our article on Paul Castellano and The Westies.

Bugs Moran: Chicago’s Irish Kingpin

In Chicago, George “Bugs” Moran was the face of the Irish mob during Prohibition. As leader of the North Side Gang, he clashed with Al Capone’s Italian Outfit, culminating in the infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre of 1929. Moran’s defiance made him a symbol of Irish-American resistance, though his gang never recovered from Capone’s onslaught.

For more on Moran’s rivalry with Capone, read our post on Bugs Moran.

Vincent Coll: The Mad Dog of Manhattan

Vincent “Mad Dog” Coll was another Irish-American gangster whose reckless violence shook New York in the 1930s. A former ally of Dutch Schultz, Coll waged a bloody war against his former boss, kidnapping rivals and bombing speakeasies. His chaotic reign ended in 1932 when he was gunned down in a phone booth, cementing his legend as an untamed force.

Explore Coll’s story in our article on Vincent Coll.

The Decline of the Irish Mob

The Irish mob’s heyday faded by the late 20th century, as law enforcement crackdowns and internal betrayals took their toll. In New York, the FBI’s targeting of The Westies, aided by Mickey Featherstone’s testimony, dismantled Coonan’s empire. In Chicago, the Irish gangs were overshadowed by the Italian Mafia and later ethnic crime groups.

Yet, the legacy of Irish-American gangsters endures, reflecting the immigrant struggle and the fierce determination that defined their communities.

Legacy of Irish-American Gangsters

From Jimmy Coonan’s Hell’s Kitchen to Bugs Moran’s Chicago, Irish-American gangsters left a complex legacy. They were products of their environment—poverty, discrimination, and rebellion—but also architects of their own downfall. Their stories are a window into the Irish-American experience, where ambition and violence walked hand in hand.

Today, Hell’s Kitchen and other former Irish strongholds have gentrified, but the echoes of their criminal past linger in the lore of the underworld.

About the Author: Seamus is passionate about uncovering the hidden stories of Irish heritage and crime. Follow Secret Ireland for more tales of rebellion and resilience.