The General

The narrative spans Cahill’s youth in the 1950s through the height of his criminal career in the 1980s, culminating in his 1994 assassination. It juxtaposes mid-20th-century poverty with late-20th-century urban development and organized crime dynamics in Ireland. The timeline traces long-standing tensions between the Gardaí, paramilitary groups, and criminals within a changing Dublin.

The story unfolds across Dublin’s south side, centering on Rathmines with the rundown Hollyfield Buildings as Cahill’s upbringing backdrop. It moves from cramped tenement streets to demolition sites where Dublin Corporation reshapes the city, fueling conflict and unrest. The film also takes the audience to Harold’s Cross for major robberies and to Russborough House in County Wicklow for the Beit paintings theft, illustrating the city and countryside as a single crime landscape.

🔥 Power & Violence

Cahill builds power through fear, coercing rivals and institutions alike. His willingness to deploy violence—whether in bank jobs, car bombs, or brutal interrogations—drives the plot and reveals how crime can mimic state power. The film shows how charisma and ruthlessness enable a crime boss to influence both criminals and police.

🕵️‍♂️ Crime & Surveillance

The Gardaí’s Tango Squad and undercover operations track Cahill’s moves, illustrating a cat-and-mouse dynamic between law enforcement and criminals. Surveillance, informants, and strategic misdirections create a tense atmosphere where every stakeout and raid could topple the gang or seal their fate. The story probes whether victory for law enforcement comes at moral cost.

💰 Greed & Heists

The gang’s audacious robberies — from the bank cashing to O’Connor’s jewellery factory and the Beit paintings — showcase how wealth drives risk and escalation. Each score tightens Cahill’s grip on power while widening the divide with rivals, the IRA, and the police. The pursuit of fortune becomes a hallmark that defines the group’s fate.

🕊️ Legacy & Consequences

The violence leaves a heavy social footprint, fueling reprisals and public backlash against the criminals and the authorities. The assassination of Cahill marks the end of one era of crime in Dublin and the start of a lingering myth around 'The General.' Community harm, police corruption rumors, and ongoing conflict shadow the legacy of his actions.