Irish in the Italian mafia..

[Anonymous20]

yeah, i just watched GOODFELLAS and both jimmy and henry (deniro and liotta) were Irish but in the italian mafia..
whats up with that? hehe.. i thought the mafia (italian-sicilian mafia) was pure sicilian?..
and why Irish especially? is it something special between italians and irish?

peace

[NW10]

Henry Hills mother was sicilian and his father was Irish, thats why henry could never become made man cos he wasnt completely italian. Jimmy Conway was mixed too but im not sure whether he was irish-italian too or sumthin else

they both worked with the italians so conway must have been half italian aswell but they were never made guys cos they werent 100% italian
hope this helps

[Anonymous20]

ah ok.. so u cant be 100 % irish in the mafia?

[NW10]

nope. you gotta be 100% italian, so the movie implies

[Anonymous20]

nah everybody isnt 100 % italian .. theres people who's just part italian whos been in the mafia... but ive never heard of someone who aint related to italy whatsoever in the mafia.

[NW10]

nah everybody isnt 100 % italian .. theres people who's just part italian whos been in the mafia... but ive never heard of someone who aint related to italy whatsoever in the mafia.

i didnt say they had to be 100% italian. That is what the film implied

[BendyThumbs]

No, to be made your father has to be Italian. The rule was officially changed because of the lack of 100% and also because Junior Gotti is not 100%.

[DeaD-SouL]

No, to be made your father has to be Italian. The rule was officially changed because of the lack of 100% and also because Junior Gotti is not 100%.

what he said..

[Anonymous20]

ah ok thank you..
what is junior gotti then? half italian - half what?

[BendyThumbs]

The wife is some sort of Eastern European, and although she isn't a practicing Jew, she is on, i believe? Don't quote me on that, i am not 100% sure, but i am pretty sure.

[purplecityhello]

im pretty sure most Irish in Italian families consider themselves Italian to some extent but then you have on the other hand the Irish Mafia which has gone to war with the Jewish Mafia and Italian Mafia

[BlaKK]

There are no members of Irish Descent in the Mob. Before you are made, they trace your Roots all the way back to the Begining, any trace of any Irish Blood you can not be made. Its been that way for 80 Years now. There very loyal to the Roots.

[BendyThumbs]

You can still be made if you have Irish blood in the American mob. There are a handful of guys, your father just has to be Italian. Also Irish associates conduct business like the Italians and if good enough are pretty well deemed just as high as a made man (Burke, Boyle).

[purplecityhello]

what if your mother is black and your father is sicilian?

[BendyThumbs]

I think you found an exception. I can not think of a current made member that has a black or latino mother. Good point, i never thought of that. But knowing the mob guys you would probably have to be white.

[paulie]

Dont believe eveything u see in the movies. Yes in new york you have to be 100 %italian. But in other places such as chicago ther are members that r irish and jewish as well. The mob now a days is not all about "wacking" out people, it is almost mainly about money.

[BendyThumbs]

New York is father like i said and most other areas are still 100%. Chicago has associates that are other stuff, but you still have to be Italian to be made. Same everywhere.

[paulie]

There r people rite now who were made who wernt italian. There even high ranking. Obviously u ve seen too many movies too understand or u dont really know much about the underworld

[BendyThumbs]

Paule there is no one in ANY of the 26 families who has been MADE who is not Italian. There are associates, but there are NO made members. Don't go telling me i don't know anything, when you are obviously so far in left field even about your basic knowledge.

If you still don't believe me then feel free to do some research and tell me someones name who isn't. I guartnee you can't.

[fistfullofboomstick]

its tru paulie u need to be italian to be made, u can be a button man and be a jew or an irishman but to be made its italian or nuthin

[MeyerLansky]

lol, Paulie, I'd like to see some names...I've studied La Cosa Nostra for a coupla years, and like BendyThumbs, I've NEVER heard about anyone in any of the families who's made, and is not Italian(have an Italian father at least)

I think you got it a little mixed up, you're probably mixing ASSOCIATES with MADE MEMBERS. Associates can be all races, but in order to be a made man, in order to get your button, you need to have at least an Italian father.

[Red Kelly]

I'm sorry to say this but I do believe that Paulie is correct. I'm not 100% certain and can't name any names but I think he may be right. The Outfit in Chicago is the only place it would be true. I'll try and find some names out. This topic has been discussed before on the RealDeal Forum of the Mafia International page. This is probably the most informative mafia discussion forum on the web. They don't put up with any BS and there are a lot of older guys on there who have been around the life and have a lot of info to share. I don't think it is very common but Chicago does do things a little differently than the East Coast. If I am able to confirm or dehy it I will pass on the info.

[BendyThumbs]

Chicago does have a large amount of associates that are of different races, jewish, irish and even chinese, but trust me they are not made. Chicago does however is more likely to treat them as equals (ie Lenny Patrick rose to the tops), but they are not made.

I am on the Real Deal and can tell you that you are on the right track with Chicago, but they are not made, just associates.

[MeyerLansky]

What he said. People got Associates and made members mixed up.

[DeaD-SouL]

how many times do they have to tell you... you have to be sicilian to be made

[MeyerLansky]

Well, not exactly Sicilian either. (sorry for being a little picky but just to set it straight, no offence meant). John Gotti was a Neapolitian if I'm right, I think it's Italian, and not sicilian heritage, who's the main criteria.

[BendyThumbs]

In Italy, it is Sicilian and then the other groups have their own, but in North America you can be Sicilian, Calabrian, Neapolitian - as long as you're Italian

[DC]

it doesnt matter where you are from in Italy, you could be from northern Italy and still be in the mafia. Only full blooded Itals can become made, but you can still be in the mafia if you are half Irish just not a made man.

[BendyThumbs]

No, in Italian there families there are in areas where there is only that type of people and that is what you are made into.

And you can be "part" of the mafia, but you will never be made and therefore never have full rights (can't represent yourself at a sitdown etc.)

[DC]

Bendy, there are Northen Italian mafia as well. Its a well known fact that the mafia is everywhere, not just the south.

[BendyThumbs]

I know there are. I was making a point about wherever you are from there will be different kinds of Italians and that is the family you stick to in Italy. There are more Sicilian orientated families and more Calabrian...you stick with your people. As an example look up NDrangheta and you will see that there is different types of families and mafias in Italy. Canada even has a NDrangheta family.

[fistfullofboomstick]

isnt it calabrese not calabrian? im pretty sure not tryin to be an ass