The Matt Talbot Memorial in Dublin

Described after a visit there by Ron R.

My wife and I had the opportunity to travel to Dublin this summer and visit the memorial of our friend, Matt Talbot. While we were there, I was also able to learn more about his story in greater depth.

Over the years, Matt had been buried and exhumed several times before finally being laid to rest at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on Sean McDermott Street in Dublin — the same working-class neighborhood where he had lived, prayed, and quietly walked the streets for so many years.

There are a couple of places in Dublin where you can see reminders of him. One is a statue located right along the river. Another is the house where he died, marked with a plaque. As the story goes, someone found him collapsed in the street, still wearing his chains.

His home is also in the same neighborhood. But inside the church, they have dedicated an entire side chapel to him. His coffin rests inside a beautiful marble-and-glass enclosure, and nearby there is a small box where visitors can leave written accounts of miracles they may have witnessed to support his cause for sainthood.

I’ve witnessed many miracles myself, so I was able to write down some of those experiences and place them in the box.

If anyone ever has the chance to make this visit, I highly recommend it. The only tricky part is that you might expect it to be set up like a museum, but it’s actually inside the church itself, and the church is only open during Mass. It’s also located in a somewhat rougher part of the neighborhood.

My wife was very persistent about making sure we found it. We tried a couple of times, but the church was closed. Finally, on the third attempt, we arrived while Mass was being held and were able to go inside.

The whole experience felt a little unusual, but it was also deeply moving and, honestly, life-changing. When I finally entered that room, I truly felt his presence.

Anyway, thanks for letting me share.

R.I.P Matt Talbot
May 2, 1856 - June 7, 1925