Dean of Cashel


The Dean of Cashel is the head of the Chapter of the Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist and St Patrick's Rock, Cashel, one of the Church of Ireland cathedrals of the united Diocese of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory.
The Deanery is vacant.
It is not known when the Chapter of Cashel was established, but in 1224 Pope Honorius III confirmed twelve Canons and a Dean in the historic cathedral of St Patrick, located at the Rock of Cashel. For centuries the Chapter consisted of five dignitaries and six prebendaries, the Archbishop of Cashel being one, holding the prebend of Glankeen as parcel of his see. The prebend of Crohane was united to the archdeaconry of Cashel for more than 200 years.
Following the Reformation, the Church of Ireland retained the cathedral until it was closed for worship in 1721. Meanwhile, the old parish Church of St John in Cashel was removed and the present Georgian Cathedral completed in 1784.
The most recent dean, the Very Reverend Gerald G. Field, was instituted and installed in February 2014.

List of deans of Cashel

Pre-Reformation

  • : Thomas.
  • before 1237–1238: David mac Cellaig Ó Gilla Pátraic, O.P..
  • unknown–1253: David Mac Cerbaill, O.Cist. ; died 1289.
  • 1254–unknown: Thaddeus O'Brien.
  • 1260–unknown: Keran, or Kyran.
  • 1267–unknown: Roland.
  • –1276: David.
  • : Antonius.
  • 1302-1306: Philip Broder.
  • 1346–unknown: Richard Fitzjohn.
  • 1402–1412: Richard Barry.
  • 1429–1437: David O'Dwyer.
  • 1452–unknown: Cornelius.
  • 1467–1485: John Hedian or O'Hedian.
  • unknown–1558: Peter Butler.

Post-Reformation