[Betis70]

>>While the vast majority of Irish immigrants were hard working and law abiding, Irish organized crime was very real and very violent.

For example Hell's Kitchen in NYC until very recently.

And being American of Irish and Mexican descent, I guess that pretty much sums me up--hard working and law abiding, with a touch of violence when confronted by a lack of potatoes, beer, corn or chile peppers.

;-)

[Labyrinthos]

Hell's Kitchen is exactly what I was thinking of, which is where the "Westies" ruled. I was also thinking about the the "Bowery Boys." The Irish mafia used to subcontract out the really important "wacks" to the Westies.

[Labyrinthos]

Here are some links to articles on Irish organized crime:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Mob

http://www.deathreference.com/Nu-Pu/Organized-Crime.html

http://www.gangland.net/westies.htm

http://www.mobmagazine.com/managearticle.asp?C=130&A=9037

What really cracks me up is that many Freepers have this erroneous belief that Mexicans and others from Central America are the first immigrants to bring violent crime and into the United States.