The Irish Mafia was the first of its kind in North America. It preceded the great migration caused by the Potato Crash or the Great Irish Famine of 1845, and its leaders were more than influential figures in the early 19th century.

So influential that they not only interfered in the presidential elections, supporting those candidates they could make money from, but also buried one of the most famous bosses of the criminal world with state honors and a procession in which absolutely all American senators were present.

Also, the Irish Mafia, despite all that has been said about its demise during the tumultuous years of Prohibition or conflicts with Al Capone and his henchmen, continues to exist and thrive to this day. In fact, the most wanted criminal of the early 21st century, after Osama bin Laden, was the head of an Irish crime syndicate in Boston.

You can learn more about the rise and recovery of the Irish mafia in the podcast that opens the “History of the Mafia” series on HotNews.ro.