Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin

The Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin is the senior official of that church, the cathedral of the United Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough in the Church of Ireland, and head of the Chapter, its governing body. A Dean has presided over Christ Church Cathedral since around 1539, before which the cathedral was a Priory under Augustinian rules, headed by a Prior, back to the time of Archbishop St. Laurence O'Toole. Aspects of the cathedral administration are overseen by the Cathedral Board, which the Dean chairs (with both a regular and a casting vote).

The current Dean, the Very Rev Dermot, a former Roman Catholic priest, was involved in a high profile bullying case in 2012 when former Director of Music, leading conducter Ms Judy Martin, claimed she was 'unfairly treated, bullied and harassed' by Dean Dunne. Ms Martin, once described as "the greatest conductor of her generation", said she was the victim of anti-English bullying at the hands of Dean Dunne and Ms Martin also revealed that depression and anxiety caused by the bullying led her to make plans to take her own life. The Rev Dunne denied the allegations and the case was settled out of court

The Dean is appointed by the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin.

The previous holders of the senior office of the Cathedral have been:

There may have been a Robert in office in 1260, and a Fulk around 1262

The Reformation having reached Ireland, by Royal Warrant of December 12, 1539, the Prior and Canons of Holy Trinity were transformed into secular clergy, to be known as the Dean and Chapter of Christ Church. So, Robert Paynswick or Penswick, alias Castell, Prior, and Richard Ball, Sub-Prior, became Dean and Precentor respectively, whilst Walter White, Seneschal and Precentor, became Chancellor and Vicar-Choral, and John Moss, Sub-Precentor [Succentor] and Sacristan, Treasurer and Vicar-Choral of the new foundation. Thus the last Augustinian Prior (Robert Paynswick) became the first Dean of Christ Church, though the process of conversion actually continued in 1540 and 1542, finishing with a Chapter of eight clergy.

From this time the offices of Bishop of Kildare (endowment of 150 pounds yearly) and Dean of Christ Church (endowment of 5200 pounds annually) were held in commendam (by the one person, taken up at the same time, starting in 1688), until the union with St. Patrick's.

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