An unlikely union tells the dramatic story of how two of americas largest ethnic groups learned to love and laugh with each other after decades of animosity they came from the poorest parts of ireland and italy and met as rivals on the sidewalks of new york. An unlikely union book description they came from the poorest parts of ireland and italy and met as rivals on the sidewalks of new york in the nineteenth century and for long after the irish and italians fought in the catholic church on the waterfront at construction sites and in the streets then they made peace through romance marrying . This is an excerpt from the introduction to an unlikely union the love hate story of new yorks irish and italians a book by former newsday reporter paul moses that is to be released july 7 by . New york free press an unlikely union the love hate story of new yorks irish and italians by paul moses new york new york university press 2015 380 pages paul moses has written a delightful book part academic and part journalistic the story of irish italian relations in new york city across nearly two centuries is a rich. An unlikely union unfolds the dramatic story of how two of americas largest ethnic groups learned to love and laugh with each other in the wake of decades of animosity