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Top Irish gangsters

Billy the Kid: (1859–1881), real name William McCarty, has become one of the legendary figures of the Wild West. His mother was an Irish immigrant who grew up in Ireland and raised her son in a New York slum before heading out west.

Ned Kelly, (1855 – 1880) iconic figure of Australian legend, son of Tipperary emigrants who has come to symbolize the rebellious Australian spirit.

James 'Whitey' Bulger: (1929 ---) currently Number One on the FBI most wanted list. A Boston mafia kingpin who is reputed to have killed or ordered the killings of up to fifty people.

The Pirate Queen: (1530 -1603) Grace O'Malley, famous Irish sea pirate of the 16th century. Her fame became so great that Queen Elizabeth 1 summoned her to London in order to meet her. The Broadway Show 'The Pirate Queen' was based on her life.

Emmett Dalton: (1871-1937) The Dalton gang were al known as the 'Wild Bunch' one of the most famous train robber families in American history. Emmett Dalton was a ringleader and the only survivor of the famous Coffeyville shootout in 1892.

James Freney (1719–1788) was an Irish highwayman.the most famous of that era, His family in Kilkenny had their lands taken from them by the English and Freney took to highway robberies to get revenge. Pursued all over Ireland he managed to escape into exile but his body was later brought back to Kilkenny where he is still alive in the folk memory there

John "Legs" Diamond, real name Jack Moran (July 10, 1897-December 18, 1931),was the son of an Irish immigrant. Also known as Gentleman Jack he was a famous Irish American gangster and bootlegger in New York city during the Prohibition era. Famous for surviving numerous attempts on his life

Owney "The Killer" Madden (December 18, 1891–April 24, 1965) was a leading underworld figure in Manhattan, most notable for his involvement in organized crime during Prohibition. He also ran the famous Cotton Club and was a leading boxing promoter in the 1930s.Though English born, his parents were both from Ireland

Charles Dean O'Banion (8 July 1892 – 10 November 1924) was an Irish American mobster who was the main rival of Al Capone during the brutal Chicago bootlegging wars of the 1920s. The newspapers of his day called him Dion O'Banion, although he never went by that name.

Michael Spillane, much better known as Mickey Spillane (July 13, 1934 – May 13, 1977), was an Irish-American mobster from Hell's Kitchen . Spillane, who was called the "last of the gentleman gangsters," was a marked contrast to the violent Westies gang members who succeeded him in Hell's Kitchen.<br />

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derrymarch | Jun 15, 2011, 07:54 PM EDT

Jesse James?

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HoundofUlster | Aug 06, 2010, 08:50 AM EDT

Marvellous - is this why so many of our politicians i the US and other countries are ruthless?

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BridyMurphy | Aug 05, 2010, 11:53 AM EDT

What about Jesse James? I'm related to him on both sides of my family and always thought he was one of the most infamous outlaws of Irish decent.

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LouGuyt | Aug 04, 2010, 12:42 PM EDT

I thought her hair was cut short. She escaped from prison and made her way to Elizabeth I who gave her back all her properties and set her free. Elizabeth, of course, knew all about piracy!

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Posted by derrymarch on June 15,2011 | 04:54PM

Jesse James?

Posted by HoundofUlster on August 6,2010 | 05:50AM

Marvellous - is this why so many of our politicians i the US and other countries are ruthless?

Posted by BridyMurphy on August 5,2010 | 08:53AM

What about Jesse James? I'm related to him on both sides of my family and always thought he was one of the most infamous outlaws of Irish decent.

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Top Irish gangsters

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