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What They Say about Brother Walfrid: the Founder, the Legend
He was a man who gave people hope at a time of desperation, someone who brought people together by creating a Club open to all – his dedication to helping others has left a phenomenal legacy.
It is Brother Walfrid’s vision of charitable purpose and community through football, which Celtic will always hold dear and will always strive to honour in everything it does.
We congratulate all those involved in delivering this study, which we are sure will be very important, raising awareness and understanding of someone who did so much for so many.
I don’t know if any miracles have been attributed to Brother Walfrid. I think you’ve got to have at least one miracle…maybe Celtic is the miracle.
To help, to assist, to support, that sense of mission…but a worse area he couldn’t have arrived in.
Brother Walfrid would be arriving in the city with its immediate needs. Obviously the children needed educated but the weans needed fed first.
He didn’t do it just to make money…he didn’t do it for any reason apart from helping people.
In a spiritual sense it was between him and God...he had made his mark, God knew he had made his mark and that was enough for Walfrid.
Football was becoming the most popular sport in Britain. Money was there to be made and there was nothing wrong in that, so long as the money was to be used for good.
An Gorta Mór was the greatest human catastrophe in Europe in the 19th Century.
100,000 Irish people came to Scotland between 1845 and 1860. Most (to) the west of Scotland. Even today a migration of that nature would send shockwaves throughout society.
Celtic...eventually became known as the sporting champion of the Irish Catholic immigrant class. So in a sense you could say Walfrid became acknowledged as (their) patron saint.
Walfrid was a very humble man. But being of humble origins his establishment of Celtic was between him and God. He wasn't the sort of man to shout about it.
Walfrid had a beautiful face. What I wanted to convey was the compassion of Brother Walfrid. There's a compassion in the eyes.
The green in the painting was a conscious decision and makes me feel Brother Walfrid's connection with Celtic F.C. This man created this incredible worldwide thing.
Little is known about this great man who, more than 100 years after his death, has left such an enduring legacy. We want to find out more.
I very much welcome the news that an in-depth study under the supervision of Dr Joseph Bradley of Stirling University into the life of the Brother Walfrid is now underway.
I look forward to the publication of this new study on Brother Walfrid, apostle of the poor, and a champion for all Glasgow’s people.
As Glasgow’s current Catholic Archbishop, a proud Glaswegian who was brought up in the city’s east end, and a Celtic supporter and football man, I look forward to...this new study.
Brother Walfrid's Life
The PhD
Who's Behind It
The Peter Howson ‘Brother Walfrid’ Limited Edition Boxed Set
We’d love it if you were able to buy a limited edition boxed set. For the committed fan looking for that special gift. Its centrepiece: a stunning reproduction of internationally-acclaimed Scottish artist Peter Howson’s famous painting of Brother Walfrid. Thirty per cent of the proceeds go to charity: the St. Mary’s Renovation Fund (it was in St. Mary’s Church hall that Brother Walfrid founded Celtic F.C). The remainder will be ploughed back into the campaign to raise awareness of Celtic’s founding father. This is what you get:
- Limited edition boxed set of only 1,888 editions.
- 60-Minute documentary narrated by Peter Mullan following the life and times of Brother Walfrid.
- A3 museum quality numbered art print signed by the artist, Peter Howson.
- Directed by BAFTA winner Paul Hineman.
- Numbered hologrammed certificate of authenticity.
- Original score by Grammy Award winner Dave Donaldson.
- Deluxe printed box.
- Ongoing commitment to raise the profile of the original artwork, raising the boxed set’s value.
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