The Dean of Tuam is a post held in the Diocese of Tuam, as head of the cathedral chapter from after the creation of the diocese at the Synod of Rathbreasail in 1111.
A dean is often the chief resident cleric of a cathedral or other collegiate church and the head of the chapter of canons. Some cathedral chapters are headed by Archpriests, Provosts or ( as in the mediaeval chapters of St David's and Llandaff until later reforms) a Precentor. If the cathedral or collegiate church has its own parish, the dean is now generally also rector of the parish. In the Church of Ireland dioceses of Clogher, Connor, and Dromore the roles are, however, often separated.
Since the Henrician Reformation, there have been parallel successions, one Church of Ireland, the other Roman Catholic.
1230 - Máel Muire Ó Lachtáin. Became archbishop in 1236. "He undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and committed an account of his travels to writing. He died at Athlone, shortly before Christmas, in the year 1249."1282 - Constantine O'Dowd.133? - Philip Hanlain, died 19 June 1339.1339 - Denis Mac Áeda, son of Aedh Mac Áeda, succeeded. Possibly kinsman of Máel Sechlain Mac Áeda.1394 - James.1399 - James Caer, Carr, possibly the same person1523 - Thomas.List of Deans (Church of Ireland)
The Dean of Tuam is based at the Cathedral Church of St Mary in Tuam in the Diocese of Tuam within the united bishopric of Tuam, Killala and Achonry of the Church of Ireland.
1558–1573 - William O'Mullally (afterwards Archbishop of Tuam 1573)1573 - Edward Browne ?1604–1605 - Richard Boyle1609–1610 - Abel Walsh1625–?1637 - Thomas Peyton1638? - John King1661 - William Buchanan1669–1686 - James Wilson1686–1712 - Robert Echlin (murdered 1712)1712 - John Hinton and/or Thomas Butler.1716 - William White? (also Dean of Kilfenora 1716)1724 - Jonathan Bruce? (also Dean of Kilfenora 1724) ?–1743 __ Hinton1743–1756 - Isaac Gervais1756–1759 - Robert Johnson (afterwards Bishop of Cloyne 1759)1759–1775 - Daniel le Tablere1775–1782 - Robert Clarke1782–1807 - Joshua Berkeley1807–1808 - James Mahon (afterwards Dean of Dromore 1808)1809–1810 - John William Keatinge (afterwards Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral 1810)1810–1813 - Richard Bourne (afterwards Chancellor of Armagh, 1813)1813–1849 - Thomas Carter1850–1867 - Hon Robert Plunket1867–1878 - Charles Henry Seymour1879–1898 - William Chambers Townsend1898–1904 - Andrew C. Tait1904–1917 - John Geddes1917-1923 – John Orr (afterwards Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry 1923)c1955– Joseph Jackson1966–1981 Walter Cyril Spence1981–1993 William James Grant1993–1996 Anthony Previté1997–1999 Ian Deighton Corbett2000–present Alistair Grimason
