matt talbot

[Red Biddy]

We used to visit my Auntie Mary (everyone has/had one of them) who lived in Dominick St and i had scars on me knees from kneeling at the place where he died.

I read his life story once and found it a bit odd that because he was fond of the drink and gave it up he was hailed as a saint. It would not happen to me. and did he have to hit himself with a whip? I think thats very strange

[Rashers]

Originally Posted by Red Biddy

We used to visit my Auntie Mary (everyone has/had one of them) who lived in Dominick St and i had scars on me knees from kneeling at the place where he died.

I read his life story once and found it a bit odd that because he was fond of the drink and gave it up he was hailed as a saint. It would not happen to me. and did he have to hit himself with a whip? I think thats very strange

He beat up a blind busker and stole the busker's violin -- what's called mugging these days. Some time later he went to the bishops palace (imagine someone having a palace even in this day and age) in Drumcondra and took the pledge. Then the religious mania set in and when his body was taken to the Mater he was found to be wrapped in chains.

[Red Biddy]

i always thought he was an eejet but now think he might have been a bit of a sadist God forgive me

[Smithfield Bohs]

There were loads of these "ecstatics" around Dublin back in the day. Heard another story of a bloke who used to go around Smithfield/Stoneybatter back in the 60's/70's flogging himself. He was supposed to have been quite popular with the ladies.

[Rashers]

Originally Posted by Smithfield Bohs

There were loads of these "ecstatics" around Dublin back in the day. Heard another story of a bloke who used to go around Smithfield/Stoneybatter back in the 60's/70's flogging himself. He was supposed to have been quite popular with the ladies.

Welcome aboard SB. (We tend to shorten some names here )

Back in the 60s, 70s and before there were people who were known as 'characters'. Some were entertaining, some harmless, some like Talbot, a man who was disliked by many who kept their mouths shut because of fear of the church.

But all with very few exceptions, if they were on the streets today would be under some kind of psychiatric/social care and no one would earmark them as saints.

[cogito]

The chains and stuff was not that unheard of among extremely devout Catholics...it's a left-over from the middle ages when penitents used to scourge themselves as a way of securing indulgences. Opus Dei members are reputed to still go in for similar gear as a method of 'self mortification'...

[Rashers]

Originally Posted by cogito

The chains and stuff was not that unheard of among extremely devout Catholics...it's a left-over from the middle ages when penitents used to scourge themselves as a way of securing indulgences. Opus Dei members are reputed to still go in for similar gear as a method of 'self mortification'...

"Opus Dei celibate members practice "corporal mortifications" such as sleeping without a pillow or sleeping on the floor, fasting or remaining silent for certain hours during the day. They may also wear a cilice, a small metal chain with inward-pointing spikes that is worn around their upper thigh. The cilice's spikes cause discomfort and may leave small marks, but typically do not cause bleeding. Numeraries in Opus Dei generally wear a cilice for two hours each day. This practice in the Catholic Church is "more widespread than many observers imagine." In modern times it has been used by Blessed Mother Teresa, Saint Padre Pio, and slain archbishop Óscar Romero."

More HERE.

[Red Biddy]

I was made ro kneel on the kneeler at the spot where he died in Granby Lane on the way to visit the Aunty Mary who lived in Dominick St. The Matt Talbot Hall was beside it. God we were eejets, god Love us

[Rashers]

Originally Posted by Red Biddy

I was made ro kneel on the kneeler at the spot where he died in Granby Lane on the way to visit the Aunty Mary who lived in Dominick St. The Matt Talbot Hall was beside it. God we were eejets, god Love us

Remember that shop across the lane facing the kneeler? If oul Matt hadn't dropped dead wher he did they wouldn't have made such a good living.

I think I'll start a religion.... they seem to do well monewise.

[The Hud]

Originally Posted by Rashers

A scab, a louser, one to be avoided.

He worked when others were on strike (T&C Martins).

He refused to take overtime pay, thereby getting any overtime that was going, taking the food out of the mouths of his fellow workers and their families.

He gave his money to the priests. To do this he folded it and inserted it into an envelope. He would head down the stairs of the tenement he lived in Upr Rutland St.... passing the door where his sister lived.. a sister that was nursing a husband suffering with TB. Did he give her even a penny? Not him.

At the time the Legion of Mary and some organisation that wanted him to be made a saint (they didn't last as the truth gradually emerged) were redecorating his room after is death (church, including the bastard McQuaid wanted a Dublin based saint). The bed of wooden lathes he was reputed to have slept on were missing so the clerk from the local church got permission from CIE to use railway sleepers taken from the side of the track at Ballybough.

Brendan Behan was one of those who worked on the redecorating of the room and got good mileage from the fact that by the time the work was done nothing that was original was left.

I could go on and on, but I think by now there are very few Dubs from the area who don't know the truth. Even the pope ignored him at the time he visited Dublin.

I am shocked to hear this,I read a book about Matt Talbot as a kid,Ithink it was called Madman or Saintand I believed he must have been very religous to do what he had done. Being out of the country for so long I did not keep up with these revelations and it is disapointing to hear what he was really like.