Matthew, Theobald (1790–1856)

Irish Roman Catholic priest, founder of the Irish Total Abstinence Society in 1838. By 1844 some 5,500,000 people were registered with the Society and a further 1,500,000 had taken the abstinence pledge without registering, although many later renounced their pledge. He was ecumenical and nonpolitical, and fell out with Daniel O'Connell over an attempt to politicize the Society.

Matthew was born in Thomastown, near Cashel, County Tipperary. He entered the Capuchin Franciscans in 1812 and was ordained priest in 1814. He was encouraged to form the Society by Quakers while working among the poor in Cork.