Talbot’s Box by Thomas Kilroy performed on the Peacock stage

Talbot’s Box was based on the life of Matt Talbot known as the workers’ saint who lived in Dublin from 1856-1925. John Molloy played Matt Talbot and Eileen Colgan played a priest figure (it would have been unusual at the time for a woman to play a priest!)

The production attracted huge public interest, particularly among people in Dublin’s inner city. They came in their droves to see John Molloy play Matt Talbot with the conviction that they were really seeing Matt Talbot on stage. People brought scapulars and held them up in the auditorium during the performance.