Did You Know? The Westies weren’t your typical neighborhood gang—they were the ruthless Irish mob of Hell’s Kitchen in the 1970s and 80s! 💥
Originating in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards area, this small but terrifying crew—often just 12–20 members strong—rose to notoriety through racketeering, drugs, and contract killings, regularly clashing with the Italian Mafia. Fear was a key tool. Businesses in Hell’s Kitchen often paid “protection” (extortion) just to stay safe.
Led by the infamous James “Coonan” Coonan, who took power by assassinating former leader Mickey Spillane, the Westies even struck alliances with the Gambino family to protect their turf while keeping their brutal independence intact.
Here’s the wild part: in the 1980s, Coonan and his enforcer Mickey Featherstone met with Mafia boss Paul Castellano to negotiate peace. Coonan had a hit squad armed with grenades and machine guns ready to obliterate the Italians if talks failed—but the team paused for a few sips of Irish whiskey. That tiny delay spared the Mafia bosses by mere minutes! 🍀🥃 A moment of “timing meets terror” that cemented their legend.
Rudy Giuliani once called them “the most savage organization in the long history of New York,” while Mafia insiders casually referred to them as “f#@ing crazy”—high praise in the underworld. Despite their ferocity, the Westies remain a fascinating slice of NYC history, blending violence, loyalty, and an almost darkly comedic sense of timing.
