Glasgow production company seek info on life of Brother Walfrid
A GLASGOW based production company are currently in the process of developing a project based around the life of Andrew Kerins, more commonly known as Brother Walfrid.
Mr Iain Robertson of Stone Scissors Productions, Glasgow has recently been in contact with the Ballymote Catholic Church, Ballymote Heritage Group and Mrs Ann Maguire, Derron in an effort to research additional information.
Andrew Kerins became Brother Walfrid of the Marist Order and was the prime mover in the establishment of the Celtic Football Club in Glasgow.
Chairman of the Ballymote Heritage Group, Neal Farry said: “We may have hit a brick wall, we are not sure if there is any more information regarding more family.
“It is believed he probably went to Emlaghnaughton school but we encourage people to come forward if they have any news at all.”
While much of his life surround the genesis of Celtic is well documented, Mr Robertson’s company are curious to discover as much as they possibly can about Andrew.
The Stone Scissors production team are curious to see if stories have been passed down in the oral tradition in the town and parish of his birth.
As far as the people of Ballymote are concerned Mrs Mary Healy, Derroon and her immediate family are the only relatives of Andrew Kerins living in the Ballymote Area.
Andrew was born on May 18, 1840 in what is believed to be the Kerins household in Cartron- Phibbs on the New Line Road near Templehouse. His parents were John Kerin and Elizabeth Flynn. Parts of the ruins of his homestead are still standing to this day.
When he was 15 he and his friend Bart Mc Gettrick of Cluid sold a weanling at Ballymote fair and used the proceeds to pay their fares on a coal boar from Sligo Harbour to Glasgow in 1855.
It is not known if either young man ever returned to Ballymote.
Professor Bart McGettrick of Glasgow Uni- versity and a grandson of the emigrant Bart McGettrick provided this information and Patricia McGettrick of Dublin is also a relative of both McGettricks.
Ballymote Heritage Group and Iain Robertson would be delighted to hear from any other distant relatives of Andrew Kerins or from any other person who has ever heard any account of his early 15 years in his own locality in Cartron, Emlaghnaughton or Cluid.
Contact: iainrobertson@ stonescissorspaper. com or nealfarry2@ gmail. com