# Matt Talbot

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Irish Catholic Venerable

For American alternative metal musician, see [Matt Talbott](/source/Matt_Talbott).

Venerable Matt Talbot TOFS Portrait of Matt Talbot, from the only known photograph. Born (1856-05-02)2 May 1856 Dublin, Ireland Died 7 June 1925(1925-06-07) (aged 69) Dublin, Ireland Resting place Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Seán McDermott Street, Dublin Patronage People who struggle with alcoholism[1] Addictions Major works Piety, charity and mortification of the flesh

**Matthew Talbot**, TOSF (2 May 1856 – 7 June 1925) was an [Irish](/source/Ireland) [ascetic](/source/Asceticism) revered by many [Catholics](/source/Roman_Catholic_Church) for his [piety](/source/Piety), [charity](/source/Charity_(virtue)) and [mortification of the flesh](/source/Mortification_of_the_flesh).

Talbot was a [manual labourer](/source/Manual_labourer) and a member of the [Third Order of Saint Francis](/source/Third_Order_of_Saint_Francis). The cords and chains discovered on his body when he died suddenly on a [Dublin](/source/Dublin) street in 1925 caused him to become famous.

Though not formally recognised as a saint, he has been declared [Venerable](/source/The_Venerable) and is considered a patron of those struggling with [alcoholism](/source/Alcoholism).[1][2] He is commemorated on 19 June.[3]

## Early life – alcoholism

Talbot was born on 2 May 1856 at 13 Aldborough Court, [Dublin](/source/Dublin), [Ireland](/source/Ireland),[4] the second eldest of twelve children of Charles and Elizabeth Talbot, a poor family in the [North Strand](/source/North_Strand) area. He was baptized in [St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral](/source/St._Mary's_Pro-Cathedral) on 5 May.[5] His father and all but the oldest of his brothers were heavy drinkers. In 1868 Matt left school at the age of twelve and went to work in a wine merchant's store. He very soon began "sampling their wares", and was considered a hopeless alcoholic by age thirteen.[6] He then went to the Port & Docks Board where he worked in the whiskey stores. He frequented pubs in the city with his brothers and friends, spending most or all of his wages and running up debts.[7] When his wages were spent, he borrowed and scrounged for money. He pawned his clothes and boots to get money for alcohol. On one occasion, he stole a [fiddle](/source/Fiddle) from a [street entertainer](/source/Busking) and sold it to buy drink.[6]

## "Taking the pledge"

One evening in 1884, 28-year old Talbot, who was penniless and out of credit, waited outside a pub in the hope that somebody would invite him in for a drink. After several friends had passed him without offering to treat him, he went home in disgust and announced to his mother that he was going to "take [the pledge](/source/Theobald_Mathew_(temperance_reformer)#Total_Abstinence_Society)" (renounce drink). He went to [Holy Cross College](/source/Holy_Cross_College_(Dublin)), [Clonliffe](/source/Clonliffe) where he took the pledge for three months. At the end of the three months, he took the pledge for six months, then for life.[8]

Having drunk excessively for 16 years, Talbot maintained sobriety for the following forty years of his life. There is evidence that Talbot's first seven years after taking the pledge were especially difficult.[1] He found strength in prayer, began to attend daily [Mass](/source/Mass_(liturgy)), and read religious books and pamphlets. He repaid all his debts scrupulously. Having searched for the fiddler whose instrument he had stolen, and having failed to find him, he gave the money to the church to have Mass said for him.

## Working life

Even when his drinking was at its worst, Talbot was a hard worker. When he joined Pembertons, the building contractors, as a [hod](/source/Brick_hod)-carrier, his work-rate was such that he was put first on the line of hodmen to set the pace. Later, in Martin's timber yard, he took on the meanest and hardest jobs. He was respectful to his bosses but not obsequious, and on occasion stood up for a fellow-worker. On 22 September 1911 Talbot joined the builder's labourers branch of the [Irish Transport and General Workers Union](/source/Irish_Transport_and_General_Workers_Union). When the [Dublin Lockout](/source/Dublin_Lockout) of 1913 led to [sympathy strikes](/source/Sympathy_strike) throughout the city, the men of Martin's, including Talbot, came out.[7] At first Talbot refused his strike pay, saying that he had not earned it. Later he accepted it but asked that it be shared out among the other strikers. After his death a rumour was put about that he was a strike-breaker in 1913, but all the evidence contradicts this.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Spirituality

Statue of Talbot near Dublin's [Talbot Memorial Bridge](/source/Talbot_Memorial_Bridge), sculpted by [James Power](/source/James_Power_(sculptor))

From being an indifferent Catholic in his drinking days, Talbot became increasingly devout. He lived a life of prayer, fasting, and service, trying to model himself on the sixth century Irish monks.[6] He was guided for most of his life by Michael Hickey, Professor of Philosophy in [Clonliffe College](/source/Clonliffe_College). Under Hickey's guidance Talbot's reading became wider. He laboriously read scripture, the lives of saints, the *[Confessions](/source/Confessions_(Augustine))* of [Saint Augustine](/source/Saint_Augustine), and the writings of [Francis de Sales](/source/Francis_de_Sales) and others. When he found a part difficult to understand, he asked a priest to clarify it.[6]

Hickey also gave him a light chain, much like a clock chain, to wear as a form of [penance](/source/Penance).[6] He became a [Third Order Franciscan](/source/Third_Order_of_Saint_Francis) in 1890 and was a member of several other associations and [sodalities](/source/Sodality).[7] Talbot was a generous man. Although poor himself, he gave unstintingly to neighbours and fellow workers, to charitable institutions and the Church. He ate very little. After his mother's death in 1915 he lived in a small flat with very little furniture. He slept on a plank bed with a piece of timber for a pillow. He rose at 5 a.m. every day so as to attend Mass before work. At work, whenever he had spare time, he found a quiet place to pray. He spent most of every evening on his knees. On Sundays he attended several Masses. He walked quickly, with his head down, so that he appeared to be hurrying from one Mass to another.

## Death

Talbot was on his way to Mass on [Trinity Sunday](/source/Trinity_Sunday), 7 June 1925, when he collapsed and died of [heart failure](/source/Congestive_heart_failure) on Granby Lane in Dublin. Nobody at the scene was able to identify him. His body was taken to [Jervis Street Hospital](/source/Jervis_Street_Hospital), where he was undressed, revealing the extent of his austerities. A chain had been wound around his waist, with more chains around an arm and a leg, and cords around the other arm and leg.[7] The chains found on his body at death were not some extreme penitential regime but a symbol of his devotion to Mary, Mother of God that he wished to give himself to her totally as a slave.[9] Talbot's story quickly filtered through the community, and there were many spectators when his funeral took place at [Glasnevin Cemetery](/source/Glasnevin_Cemetery) on 11 June 1925. In 1972 his remains were removed to a tomb in Our Lady of Lourdes Church in [Seán McDermott Street](/source/Se%C3%A1n_McDermott_Street), Dublin, in the area where Talbot spent his life.[9]

## Beatification process

On 6 November 1931, [Edward Joseph Byrne](/source/Edward_Joseph_Byrne), [Archbishop of Dublin](/source/Archbishop_of_Dublin_(Roman_Catholic)), opened a sworn inquiry into the alleged claims of holiness of the former dock worker. Theologians approved his spiritual writings on 27 November 1937.[10] The Apostolic Process, the official sworn inquiry at the [Vatican](/source/Roman_Curia), began on 28 November 1947, granting Talbot the title of [Servant of God](/source/Servant_of_God).[10] On 3 October 1975 [Pope Paul VI](/source/Pope_Paul_VI) declared him to be [Venerable](/source/The_Venerable) Matt Talbot, which is a step on the road to his [beatification](/source/Beatification).[7] There is a particular devotion to Matt Talbot among some North American Roman Catholics[9] and in Australia among those involved in a ministry to achieve or maintain sobriety. An American Carmelite priest, Rev. [Albert H. Dolan](/source/Albert_H._Dolan), founded the Matt Talbot Legion, "to aid alcoholics through prayer and the inspiration of Matt Talbott's example."[11] Dolan wrote two books about Matt Talbot: *We Knew Matt Talbot: Visits with His Relatives and Friends* (1948)[\[1\]](https://archive.org/details/weknewmatttalbot00dola) and *Matt Talbot, Alcoholic: The Story of a Slave to Alcohol who Became a Comrade of Christ* (1947).

## Legacy

The Custom House and Matt Talbot Memorial Bridge from City Quay

Matt Talbot features in [Brendan Behan](/source/Brendan_Behan)’s autobiography *Confessions of an Irish Rebel*. Behan remembers that Talbot’s piety was widely mocked by ordinary working class Dubliners. Behan states that it was only after a concerted campaign by the Catholic Church and middle class business owners (concerned about work absenteeism due to alcoholism) that his legacy as a credible figure within the temperance movement was secured.[12]

Never be too hard on the man who can’t give up drink. It’s as hard to give up the drink as it is to raise the dead to life again. But both are possible and even easy for Our Lord. We have only to depend on him. — Matt Talbot[3]

As word of Matt Talbot spread, he rapidly became an icon for Ireland's [Catholic temperance movement](/source/Catholic_temperance_movement); the [Pioneer Total Abstinence Association](/source/Pioneer_Total_Abstinence_Association). His story soon became known to the large [Irish diaspora](/source/Irish_diaspora) communities. Many addiction clinics, youth hostels and statues have been named after him throughout the world. One of Dublin's main bridges is also [named after him](/source/Talbot_Memorial_Bridge). A statue of Talbot was erected at [Sir John Rogerson's Quay](/source/Sir_John_Rogerson's_Quay) in 1988. [Pope John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II), as a young man, wrote a paper on him.

An original musical on the life of Matt Talbot was written, produced and performed by Patrick and Kathleen Phelan in the parish of Clonoulty Rossmore in Co. Tipperary, Ireland in 1986. The talented couple staged the show to packed audiences in Tipperary and in Dublin. They were contemplating the invitation of a local priest to the project when Patrick randomly dusted off a book in a derelict house to find it was the biography by Sir Joseph Glynn on Matt's life. With few resources and a lot of heart they were inspired to create the musical. Subsequently they recorded

Songs from the Musical "Matt Talbot" created by Pat & Kathleen Phelan in 1986[13]

The [Matthew Talbot Hostel](/source/Matthew_Talbot_Hostel) for homeless men in [Sydney](/source/Sydney), [Australia](/source/Australia) is named after him.

[Graham Linehan](/source/Graham_Linehan) has stated that the character of [Matty Hislop](/source/Cigarettes_and_Alcohol_and_Rollerblading) in his comedy series *[Father Ted](/source/Father_Ted)* was intended to be a satire of Matt Talbot.[14] [Derek Warfield](/source/Derek_Warfield) of [The Wolfe Tones](/source/The_Wolfe_Tones) recorded a song "Matt Talbot" about Talbot.[15]

Talbot's remains were removed from [Glasnevin Cemetery](/source/Glasnevin_Cemetery) to Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church on [Seán McDermott Street](/source/Se%C3%A1n_McDermott_Street), Dublin in 1972. The tomb has a glass panel through which the coffin may be seen.

There is a small plaque in Granby Lane at the site of Matt Talbot's death. Prior to the current plaque on the Eastern side of the lane, a small brass cross was inlaid in a stone wall on the Western side of the lane.

In August 1971 Archbishop [John Charles McQuaid](/source/John_Charles_McQuaid) unveiled a plaque to Talbot at a block of flats known as 'Matt Talbot Court' due to it being on the same site as one of Talbot's residences. President [Éamon de Valera](/source/%C3%89amon_de_Valera) and [Fine Gael](/source/Fine_Gael) leader [Liam Cosgrave](/source/Liam_Cosgrave) attended the ceremony.[16]

The Talbot Association,[17] founded in 1970 in honour of Matt Talbot, is the biggest provider of residential services for people experiencing homelessness in [Glasgow](/source/Glasgow), [Scotland](/source/Scotland). The association helps support the city’s most vulnerable people: those facing the complex realities of addiction, mental ill-health, social isolation, and long-term instability.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-foley_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-foley_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-foley_1-2) Leonard Foley OFM, "Venerable Matt Talbot", in *[Saint of the Day, Lives, Lessons, and Feast](https://books.google.com/books?id=_qzIPgAACAAJ)*, (revised by Pat McCloskey OFM), Franciscan Media, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-86716-887-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-86716-887-7)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Don Miller OFM, ["Venerable Matt Talbot"](https://www.franciscanmedia.org/venerable-matt-talbot/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201007130317/https://www.franciscanmedia.org/venerable-matt-talbot/) 7 October 2020 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), Franciscan Media

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-lapointe_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-lapointe_3-1) [LaPointe, Fr. Larry, "Matt Talbot", Connecticut College](http://www.conncoll.edu/images/content/Matt_Talbot.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120901090504/http://www.conncoll.edu/images/content/Matt_Talbot.pdf) 1 September 2012 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-diocese_4-0)** [""Matt Talbot", Diocese of Dublin"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130627191827/http://www.matttalbot.ie/index.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.matttalbot.ie/index.htm) on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-pro_5-0)** ["Venerable Matt Talbot, 1856 – 1925"](http://www.procathedral.ie/matt-talbot), [St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral](/source/St._Mary's_Pro-Cathedral), Dublin

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Atlanta_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Atlanta_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Atlanta_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Atlanta_6-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Atlanta_6-4) ["Venerable Matt Talbot (Patron of Struggling and Recovering Addicts and Alcoholics)", Archdiocese of Atlanta](http://www.archatl.com/ministries/disabilities/saints/saint_info.php?0=June+19&feast_date=June+19&1=Venerable+Matt+Talbot&full_name=Venerable+Matt+Talbot&2=Alcoholics&patronage=Alcoholics) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150402095740/http://www.archatl.com/ministries/disabilities/saints/saint_info.php?0=June+19&feast_date=June+19&1=Venerable+Matt+Talbot&full_name=Venerable+Matt+Talbot&2=Alcoholics&patronage=Alcoholics) 2 April 2015 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-matt_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-matt_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-matt_7-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-matt_7-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-matt_7-4) Boylan, Henry (1998). *A Dictionary of Irish Biography, 3rd Edition*. Dublin: Gill and MacMillan. p. 419. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7171-2945-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7171-2945-4).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Talbot's pledge certificate from the "Total Abstinence League of Sacred Heart", 4 May 1890](http://www.pioneertotal.ie/pioneer/images/matt.jpg)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bishops_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bishops_9-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-bishops_9-2) ["Matt Talbot", Irish Bishop's Conference](http://irishbishopsdrugsinitiative.com/?page_id=235)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-index_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-index_10-1) *Index ac status causarum beatificationis servorum dei et canonizationis beatorum* (in Latin). Typis polyglottis vaticanis. January 1953. p. 172.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Fr. Dolan, Founder of U.S. Little Flower Shrine, Dies"](https://thecatholicnewsarchive.org/?a=d&d=cns19510129-01.1.10&srpos=20&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-%22Albert+H.+Dolan%22-------). *Catholic News Service - Newsfeeds*. 29 January 1951. p. 8.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Confessions of an Irish Rebel (1965)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Pierre Klein (12 November 2017). [*Songs from the Musical "Matt Talbot" created by Pat & Kathleen Phelan in 1986*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yissk0U0P-Y). Retrieved 3 May 2026 – via YouTube.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Writer's commentary to 'Cigarettes and Alcohol and Rollerblading', *Father Ted – The Definitive Collection*, 2 Entertain Video, 2002

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Matt Talbot Lyrics By Derek Warfield"](https://www.irish-folk-songs.com/matt-talbot-lyrics-by-derek-warfield.html).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Matt Talbot Court 1971"](https://www.rte.ie/archives/2021/0812/1240484-matt-talbot-plaque/). RTE Archives.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Association, Talbot. ["Talbot Association"](https://talbotassociation.org/). *Talbot Association*. Retrieved 23 October 2025.

## Bibliography

- [Doherty, Eddie](/source/Eddie_Doherty). *Matt Talbot.* [Madonna House](/source/Madonna_House_Apostolate), 2nd edition 2001. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-921440-67-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-921440-67-7)

- Glynn, Sir Joseph A. *Matt Talbot.* Dublin: [Catholic Truth Society](/source/Catholic_Truth_Society), 1924. Print.

- Marynard, Philip. *Slake a Thirst: The Matt Talbot Way to Sobriety*, Alba House 2000 [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8189-0843-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8189-0843-2)

- [Purcell, Mary](/source/Mary_Purcell_(biographer)). *Matt Talbot and His Times*. Franciscan Pr; Revised edition, 1977 [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-85390-185-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-85390-185-7)

- Wallace, Susan Helen. *Matt Talbot: His Struggle, His Victory over Alcoholism*, [Pauline Books & Media](/source/Daughters_of_St._Paul) 1992, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8198-4766-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8198-4766-6)

- [Karl Mühlek](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Karl_M%C3%BChlek&action=edit&redlink=1) (1996). "Matt Talbot". In Bautz, Traugott (ed.). [*Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL)*](https://www.bbkl.de/{{{1}}}) (in German). Vol. 11. Herzberg: Bautz. cols. 480–481. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3-88309-064-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-88309-064-6).

## External links

- [Matt Talbot – the workers' saint](http://www.catholicireland.net/saintoftheday/matt-talbot-the-workers-saint/) at Catholic Ireland

- [Irish Presidential Acknowledgement of the Matt Talbot Community](http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/claremuseum/news_events/presidential_acknowledgement_of_matt_talbot_community.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20060221130001/http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/claremuseum/news_events/presidential_acknowledgement_of_matt_talbot_community.htm) 21 February 2006 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) at Clare County Library

- [Venerable Matthew Talbot](http://www.savior.org/saints/talbot.htm) at Savior.org

- [Patron Saints Index: Venerable Matt Talbot](https://web.archive.org/web/20051205115747/http://www.catholic-forum.com/Saints/saintm8j.htm) at Catholic Community Forum

- [Venerable Matt Talbot](http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=430) at Catholic Online

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Matt Talbot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Talbot) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Talbot?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.