| Celtic Graves | Br Walfrid Biog |
Grave & memorial
Br Walfrid settled at the Brothers’ retirement home at Mount St Michael’s in Dumfries. The house was in the same grounds as St Joseph’s College which was opened in 1875, run by the Marist Brothers. It was here that Br Walfrid was laid to rest along with the other Brothers when he passed away in 1915.
Mount St.Michael Chapel is at the back of St,Joseph’s College Dumfries – Just up from the Chapel is a small white fenced Graveyard where more than 200 Marist Brothers including Brother Walfrid have been laid to rest.
From 2004/2005 The Cemetery fell under the care and jurisdiction of the local Council but it is till open to the Public to pay their respects. The Council have opened the wall through to St Michaels Cemetry, the Marist Brothers graveyard is accessible from Craigs Road access to St Michaels Cemetry, through the wall in the left hand corner – Brother Walfrid’s grave is in the row nearest to this new access, and as stated above, is accessible to anyone.
![[Untitled]](https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/XJRwaB6Bn3wOdm-BvNqZbw82403 "[Untitled]")
Inscriptions:
Brother Walfrid (Andrew Kerins)
Vow of Stability
Born at Ballymote, Co. Sligo, Ireland May 18th 1840
Died April 17th 1915
Lived 51 years in community
Rest In Peace
Rememberance (25 Aug 2012)
Remembering our Founding Father
By: Newsroom Staff on 25 Aug, 2012 09:41
THIS Sunday, August 26, sees the latest Celtic Graves Society event, and it’s a special occasion to commemorate the final resting place of Celtic’s founding father, Brother Walfrid.
Brother Walfrid, a Marist brother who was born Andrew Kerins in Sligo, was the driving force behind the formation of Celtic Football Club in 1887.
And a special event at Mount St Michael Cemetery, Dumfries this Sunday (1pm) will remember a great, but very humble man, whose motivation was to help the most needy in the East End of Glasgow.
The ceremony will include representatives from Celtic, Father John Sweeney of Holy Cross Church, Glasgow, and Terry Dick, son of Glen Daly. And the event will also include a tour of the Marist cemetery and the Mount St Michael Chapel.
A special day for the Celtic family
By: Paul Cuddihy on 27 Aug, 2012 10:04 EVERY event organised by the Celtic Graves Society is a special occasion, reminding supporters of the unique history of our football club. However, last Sunday’s ceremony in a Dumfries cemetery was perhaps the most special of all.
Over 100 Celts gathered at the Marist cemetery in the grounds of St Joseph’s, Dumfries, at the graveside of Celtic’s Founding Father, Brother Walfrid. The event is the first in a series organised by the Graves Society to mark Celtic’s 125 years.
And it was appropriate that the first of these events took place at the graveside of the man whose vision created a football club in the East End of Glasgow that is now known and loved throughout the world.
Brendan Sweeney of the Graves Society spoke about Walfrid’s life and work, both in Glasgow and later in London, where he continued to work amongst the poorest people in society, often using football as a way of raising much-needed funds.
Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell described the wonderful legacy that Brother Walfrid left, of a football club striving for excellence on the field of play, but also aware of its responsibilities off it, to be more than a club and always remain true to the unique charitable roots.
This has seen the club, through the Celtic Charity Fund and the generosity of supporters, raise millions of pounds to help those most in need, whether that be in the local community or, indeed, anywhere in the world.
Ian Hughes, chief executive of the Charity Fund, spoke of the club’s ongoing commitment to charitable works, and why it remains an integral part of the club’s character as the celebrations begin for Celtic’s 125th anniversary.
Brother Norbert, a Marist brother and a former teacher at St Joseph’s, who was joined by his fellow Marist, Brother Julian, spoke on behalf of the Marist order.
He explained that, while the motivation of every Marist is to do God’s work willingly and without ever looking for praise, the order was proud of Brother Walfrid and the instrumental role he and his fellow Marists had played in the formation of a football club that is now renowned throughout the world.
Terry Dick, son of Glen Daly, and a strong supporter of the Celtic Graves Society, delivered a memorable speech, detailing the reality of life in late 19th century Glasgow for the Irish immigrants. He also spoke movingly about Brother Walfrid and the extraordinary life the man from Sligo had, all for the glory of God and the greater good of his fellow man.
Father John Sweeney of Holy Cross parish in Glasgow, a regular presence at these events and a great supporter of the Celtic Graves Society, gave the blessing at the graveside. The eventconcluded witha tour of the Marist cemetery and the Mount St Michael Chapel.
Links
Forums
- Celtic Graves Society Forum thread (2011)
- Remembrance (2012) Links: KDS, CGS
