Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army
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.
They should not be confused with the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces.
Chiefs of Staff of the Irish Republican Army (1917–1922)
| Image | Name | Assumed position | Left position | Source |
| Cathal Brugha | 27 October 1917 | March 1919 | ||
| Richard Mulcahy | March 1919 | 15 January 1922 | ||
| Eoin O'Duffy | 15 January 1922 | July 1922 |
a. Chairman of the Resident Executive
Chiefs of Staff of the (anti-Treaty) Irish Republican Army (1922–1969)
| Image | Name | Assumed position | Left position | Source |
| Liam Lynch ' | 26 March 1922 | 18 June 1922 | ||
| Joe McKelvey | 18 June 1922 | 30 June 1922 | ||
| Liam Lynch ' | 30 June 1922 | 10 April 1923 | ||
| Frank Aiken | 20 April 1923 | 12 November 1925 | ||
| Andrew Cooney | 12 November 1925 | July 1926 | ||
| Moss Twomey | 1926 1927 | June 1936 | ||
| Seán MacBride | June 1936 | late 1936 | ||
| Tom Barry | 1937 | 1937 | ||
| Mick Fitzpatrick | 1937 | 1938 | ||
| Seán Russell | 1938 | April 1939 | ||
| Stephen Hayes | April 1939 | 30 June 1941 | ||
| Pearse Kelly | 1941 | 27 November 1941 | ||
| Seán Harrington | Aft. November 1941 | February 1942 | ||
| Seán McCool | February 1942 | 14 August 1942 | ||
| Eoin McNamee | March 1942 | May 1942 | ||
| Hugh McAteer | May 1942 | 12 October 1942 | ||
| Charlie Kerins | October 1942 | 16 June 1944 | ||
| Position vacant for some months | 16 June 1944 | 1944 | ||
| Harry White | 1944 | 1945 | ||
| Patrick Fleming | 1 March 1945 | 1947? | ||
| Willie McGuinness | 1947 | 1948? | ||
| Tony Magan ' | November 1948 | 6 July 1957 | ||
| Richard Burke | January 1957 | May 1957 | ||
| Tony Magan ' | May 1957 | 6 July 1957 | ||
| Seán Cronin | July 1957 11 November 1957 | October 1958 | ||
| John Joe McGirl | October 1958 | 24 October 1958 | ||
| Ruairí Ó Brádaigh | 24 October 1958 | Late May 1959 | ||
| Seán Cronin | Late May 1959 | June 1960 | ||
| Ruairí Ó Brádaigh | Summer 1960 | 7 September 1962 | ||
| Cathal Goulding | 7 September 1962 | December 1969 |
At an IRA General Army Convention held at Knockvicar House in Boyle, County Roscommon in December 1969, the IRA split into two factions, the majority Official IRA and the minority Provisional IRA.
Chiefs of Staff of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (1969–2005)
| No. | Name | Assumed position | Left position | Source |
| Seán Mac Stíofáin | December 1969 | 19 November 1972 | ||
| Joe Cahill | November 1972 | March 1973 | ||
| Seamus Twomey | March 1973 | June 1973 | ||
| Éamonn O'Doherty | June 1973 | June/July 1974 | ||
| Seamus Twomey | June/July 1974 | December 1977 | ||
| Gerry Adams | 3 December 1977 | 18 February 1978 | ||
| Martin McGuinness | 1978 | Autumn 1982 | ||
| Ivor Bell | Autumn 1982 | September 1983 | ||
| Kevin McKenna | September 1983 | October 1997 | ||
| Thomas "Slab" Murphy | October 1997 | 1998 | ||
| Brian Keenan | 1998 | 2002 or May 2008 | ||
| Unnamed Belfast Resident | May 2008 | Incumbent |
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.
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)
| No. | Name | Assumed Position | Left Position | Source |
| Cathal Goulding | December 1969 | 1972 | ||
| Donal McDermott | 1998 |
Chiefs of Staff of the Continuity Irish Republican Army (1986–present)
| No. | Name | Assumed Position | Left Position | Source |
| Dáithí Ó Conaill | 1986 | 1991 |