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The Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin is dean and head of the chapter of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, commonly called Christ Church Cathedral, which is the cathedral church of the United Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough in the Church of Ireland. The dean is appointed by the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin. Aspects of the cathedral administration are overseen by the Cathedral Board, which the Dean chairs with both a regular and a casting vote.
The Prior of Christ Church or Prior of the Holy Trinity was the predecessor of the office of dean. As part the dissolution of the Irish monasteries, the Arrosian abbey attached to the cathedral — the Priory of the Holy Trinity founded by archbishop Laurence O'Toole — was dissolved and its canons became officers of the new cathedral chapter, by Royal Warrant of 12 December 1539. From the Williamite Revolution until 1846, the Deanship of Christ Church (endowment £5200) was held in commendam by the Bishop of Kildare (endowment £150). In 1846, the diocese of Kildare was merged with that of Dublin, and the office of Dean of Christ Church Cathedral was combined with that of Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral. (The other Church of Ireland cathedral in Dublin, St Patrick's Cathedral is a "national cathedral" rather than a diocesan cathedral.) After the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland, the Deanship of St Patrick's was separated while that of Christ Church was filled by the Archbishop of Dublin. In 1889, a separate Dean of Christ Church was reinstated.