r/Mafia • u/myprettygaythrowaway • 4d ago

Structurally, how do/did the Irish groups compare to the Italians?

Watched this movie Prime Cut, premise being Irish mobsters from Chicago having to do something in American heartland. It's got Lee Marvin & Gene Hackman, so if you're fans of theirs, you'll like it.

But it's got me thinking that every time I've seen the Irish on screen, they're always portrayed as a lot looser, arguably more laid-back than their Italian counterparts, without necessarily being much less influential or competent than them. Sometimes, like in this movie, they're portrayed as being straight peers to the LCN - great suits, so on. They seem to usually be shown as much more "working class" than the LCN, though. The Departed, Killing Them Softly, The Friends of Eddie Coyle...

So how's/'d all that compare to reality?

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u/DepressedJohnnyQuest 4d ago

That jives a lot with St. Louis’s Irish outfit: one boss, several important lieutenants, and more working class than their Italian counterparts