In a section titled, "Saints for Today," from his book, The Spirituality of Celtic Saints (2000), Richard J. Woods states that two Irish laymen candidates for sainthood "...whose lives greatly altered the course of spiritual history in the West" are Matt Talbot (and Frank Duff, founder of the Legion of Mary).
To read this section, click this link; then type in Matt Talbot in the search box; then click item 3. for page 175. http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1570753164/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-9102648-1276810#reader-link
To read this section, click this link; then type in Matt Talbot in the search box; then click item 3. for page 175. http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1570753164/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-9102648-1276810#reader-link