Currently Abbots are elected for an eight-year period.
Before 1957, the superior had the title of prior.
From 1927 until 1945 the prior was appointed by the parent abbey Maredsous in Belgium.

Prior Bede Lebbe OSB (to 1938)
Prior Idesbald Ryelandt OSB (1938–1945)
Prior Bernard O’Dea OSB (1945–1952)
Prior Placid Murray OSB DD (1952–1957)
Abbot Joseph Dowdall OSB (1957–1966)
Abbot Agustine O'Sullivan OSB (1966–1980)
Abbot Celestine Cullen OSB (1980–1992)
Abbot Christopher Dillon OSB (1992–2008)
Abbot Mark Patrick Hederman OSB (2008–2016)
Abbot Brendan Coffey OSB (2016–)
Currently Abbots are elected for an eight-year period. Before 1957, the superior had the title of prior. From 1927 until 1945 the prior was appointed by the parent abbey Maredsous in Belgium.
Prior Bede Lebbe OSB (to 1938)
Prior Idesbald Ryelandt OSB (1938–1945)
Prior Bernard O’Dea OSB (1945–1952)
Prior Placid Murray OSB DD (1952–1957)
Abbot Joseph Dowdall OSB (1957–1966)
Abbot Agustine O'Sullivan OSB (1966–1980)
Abbot Celestine Cullen OSB (1980–1992)
Abbot Christopher Dillon OSB (1992–2008)
Abbot Mark Patrick Hederman OSB (2008–2016)
Abbot Brendan Coffey OSB (2016–)
Glenstal Abbey