Several people are reported to have served as Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army () in the
organisations bearing that name. Due to the clandestine nature of these organisations, this list is not definitive.
Chiefs of Staff of the Irish Republican Army (1917–1922)
''From this point on, this lineage diverts to
Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces''
a.
Chairman of the Resident Executive
Chiefs of Staff of the (anti-Treaty) Irish Republican Army (1922–1969)
At an IRA General Army Convention held at Knockvicar House in
Boyle, County Roscommon
Boyle (; ) is a town in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is located at the foot of the Curlew Mountains near Lough Key in the north of the county. Carrowkeel Megalithic Cemetery, the Drumanone Dolmen and the lakes of Lough Arrow and Lough Gara ...
in December 1969, the IRA split into two factions, the majority
Official IRA and the minority
Provisional IRA
The Irish Republican Army (IRA; ), also known as the Provisional Irish Republican Army, and informally as the Provos, was an Irish republican paramilitary organisation that sought to end British rule in Northern Ireland, facilitate Irish re ...
.
Chiefs of Staff of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (1969–2005)
a.
Some noted Irish and British historians, including Ed Moloney, author of ''A Secret History of the IRA'', have claimed that Gerry Adams has been part of the IRA leadership. Adams has always denied IRA membership, let alone being chief of staff."IRA Expert Ed Moloney to Speak On Campus Nov. 20"
, ''Boston Chronicle'', 14 November 2002.
b.
Although he admitted in his lifetime to IRA membership, he denied ever being Chief of Staff
Chiefs of Staff of the Official Irish Republican Army (1969–present)
a.
Hanley and Millar (2010) wrote: Goulding was "replaced by Garland after an Army Council vote in summer 1976. Long dismissive of the IRA's titles and formal military structure, Garland was reluctant to adopt the title of Chief of Staff; but he was now undoubtedly in charge".
Chiefs of Staff of the Continuity Irish Republican Army (1986–present)
Chiefs of Staff of the Real Irish Republican Army (1997–present)
See also
*
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is a name used by various paramilitary organisations in Ireland throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Organisations by this name have been dedicated to irredentism through Irish republicanism, the belief th ...
*
IRA Quartermaster General
The IRA Quartermaster General (QMG) runs a department which is responsible for obtaining, concealing and maintaining the store of weaponry of the Irish Republican Army. In the Provisional IRA, the QMG department is a large and important departmen ...
*
IRA Director of Intelligence
The Director of Intelligence attempted to oversee the workings of intelligence officers in the IRA's local units across the island.
Director of Intelligence of the Irish Republican Army (1917–1922)
Director of Intelligence of the (anti-Treaty ...
References
{{RIRA/32CSM
Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army members
Lists of Irish people