Owney "Killer" Madden started out his career in crime with Gangs of New York outfit the Gophers before moving up in the world to open the world-famous Cotton Club. John "Red" Hamilton was the number two to notorious bank robber John Dillinger.

Episode 1 of 6, Prohibition

From the Irish gangs of New York in the late 1800s through to the 1970s, this six-part documentary tells the amazing stories of the first-generation Irish kids who became some of America's most notorious and wanted gangsters.

The Irish Mob

Series 1

A tale of shamrocks and submachine guns - witness the rise of the Irish Mob in America.

Mickey Spillane, "the last of the gentleman gangsters", waged a decades-long war with the Mafia for control of Hell's Kitchen. In the 1980s the Westies, led by Jimmy Coonan, emerged as one of the most feared gangs of killers the city had ever seen.

Episode 2 of 6, The Irish in Hell's Kitchen

Danny Greene, known as the Celtic Warrior, ran a criminal empire in Cleveland and took on the might of the Italian mob with no fear at all. Jimmy "The Gent" Burke was the basis for Robert De Niro's character in Goodfellas.

Episode 3 of 6, The Irish Goodfellas

Based in Canada, the Stopwatch Gang got their name from the FBI as its leader always wore a stopwatch and all bank robberies lasted no more than 90 seconds. The West End Gang went on to become one of America's largest cocaine importers.

Episode 4 of 6, Irish Gangs

Pat Nee started out together with James "Whitey" Bulger in the Winter Hill gang in South Boston. Brian O'Dea gives an incredible first-hand account of what it is like to be a major drug importer and how it can ruin so many lives.

Episode 5 of 6, In Their Own Words

In a deathbed confession, Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran revealed his role in one of the great unsolved mysteries of the 20th century - who killed Jimmy Hoffa?

The Irish Mob

Episode 1 of 6, Prohibition

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