Support Talbot Association's Mission

About Matt Talbot

Born in Dublin in 1856, Matt was the second of twelve children in a poor working-class family. From a young age, he faced the harsh realities of life in post-famine Ireland: poverty, instability, and widespread alcohol misuse. By the age of 12, Matt was already working for a wine merchant and had begun drinking heavily. His addiction consumed the next twelve years of his life.

At the age of 28, after being refused credit at a pub, penniless and ashamed, Matt made a quiet but life-changing vow: he would give up alcohol. What began as a three-month pledge became a lifetime of sobriety, supported by daily prayer, frequent confession, and a deep devotion to the Eucharist and Our Lady. In the face of withdrawal and hardship, Matt discovered the strength of faith and the healing power of spiritual community.

Matt taught himself to read and write in adulthood, devouring the lives of the saints and spiritual classics. He became a Secular Franciscan, attended daily Mass, and undertook personal penances inspired by the early Irish monks. Behind his simplicity was a hidden life of profound devotion — one that led many to call him an urban mystic.

He died humbly on a Dublin street in 1925, on his way to Mass. Only after his death were the secret chains of penance he wore discovered, a quiet testimony to his unseen sacrifices.

Nearly a century later, people still come to pray at his tomb, seeking healing, strength, and hope. In his life, we see a powerful witness: that no one is beyond redemption, and that even in the darkest struggles, light can break through.

We honour Matt Talbot’s memory not only as a man on the path to sainthood, but as a symbol of resilience, renewal, and the transformative power of grace.

The Talbot Association was founded in 1970, during a time when homelessness in Glasgow, particularly amongst single men, was widespread and poorly understood. 

The immediate trigger for this crisis was the destruction of a major men's hostel by fire, followed by the closure of two other lodging houses on health and safety grounds. As a result, many vulnerable individuals were left sleeping rough in city centre lanes, shop doorways and derelict buildings.

In response, Vincent Buchanan and a small group of dedicated volunteers came together to offer practical help and human compassion. The organisation was named after Matt Talbot, a humble working man from Dublin who overcame personal struggles with alcoholism and went on to devote his life to supporting the destitute. His legacy of selflessness and service continues to inspire our work today.

At its inception, the Talbot Association operated from disused and makeshift public buildings, providing essential services like food, clothing, and shelter, alongside a soup van, which not only fed rough sleepers but often transported the sick to hospital.

These early services were rooted in the Corporal Works of Mercy, which continue to shape our mission:

• To shelter the homeless and destitute
• To feed the hungry
• To clothe the needy
• To care for the sick
• To remember the forgotten
• To bury the dead

From 1970 to 1990, the Association focused on delivering these fundamental acts of care. But as the needs of the homeless population evolved —and as policy and legislation began to recognise the complexity of homelessness — so too did our services.

Since 1990, the Talbot Association has undertaken a continuous and ambitious programme of transformation. In partnership with several Glasgow housing associations, we now operate from six high-quality accommodation centres, offering not just shelter but an extensive range of specialised support services tailored to the needs of people experiencing homelessness.