Traces the rise of the Molly Maguires from Ireland's devastating potato famine to the turbulent dawn of the American labor movement. With a heavy emphasis on the folk culture that underpinned the Mollies, the book documents the group's Civil War rebirth in Pennsylvania, and its lasting influence.
In 1922, three top gunmen from the Irish Republican Army arrived in New York City on a mission of vengeance against "Cruxy" O'Connor, a young Irishman whose betrayals had devastating consequences for the I.R.A. After revealing the location of their safe house, six of his comrades were killed, prompting the I.R.A. to target him. The dramatic culmination occurred when Cruxy was gunned down in front of horrified New Yorkers at Central Park West. This account, based on previously unpublished first-hand accounts, delves into the complex figure of O'Connor: Was he a decorated war hero turned British spy? Did his machine gun jam during a critical moment? Was he coerced into betraying his comrades? Or was he entangled in a longstanding family feud? Author Mark Bulik, a former editor at The New York Times, meticulously researched Irish government archives, newspaper articles, and family documents to piece together this sensational narrative. The story encompasses a rebel ambush, a police raid, a poisoned dinner, a daring prison escape, and an assassination plot against British officials. Despite being gravely injured, Cruxy remained silent with detectives, embodying the enigma of a man who ceased to spy and shoot but refused to inform, even at death's door. This tale reveals a forgotten chapter of Irish and New York history, highlighting the only officially sanctioned I.R.A. attack on American soil.