Pat Fallon & Jack Wise are The Business

Pat and Jack were both guests on The Business with George Lee on RTÉ Radio 1 ealier today.  Thanks to Michael Baines on Facebook for making me aware of this. Listen here.  Skip to 49:40 to hear Pat and Jack. 

The Two Paul's

Kilkenny based magician Paul Phelan managed to use the recent visit of Paul Daniels to good effect.  Paul, Phelan that is, capitalised on the meeting and has landed some nice publicity in a local paper.  Nice one Paul.  Click on the image to view full size. Thanks to Nevin Cody for passing this along.

Upon checking MagicWeek moments ago I see that Duncan has sourced the online version of this story which can be read on The Kilkenny People website here.

Magic UnCorked Release Registration Prices

Magic UnCorked, the joint IBM Irish Magic Convention taking place in Cork from April 27th -29th have just announced their registration prices.  A full weekend registration is unbelievable value at €65.  With headline acts including Helder Guimaraes, Quentin Reynolds, Luke Jermay (pictured), John Lenihan and Diamond Jim Tyler this promises to be a fantastic weekend.  For more information and a full run down on the registration options please visit the Magic UnCorked website.

Magic Nights in Belfast

Are you a fan of the flourish, a sucker for sleight of hand or dazzled by the discovery of the disappeared?

Belfast based Caolan McBride  has teamed up with Seedhead Arts and the Black Box to bring you an evening of close up and performance magic at the Midweek Magic Club. Each show will involve a grand total of FOUR local magicians trying out new and innovative material in the intimate surrounds of the Black Box cafe, and in between sets the performers will show off their latest close up skills around the tables of the venue.

The Midweek Magic Club will allow you to see established Belfast favourites like Caolan alongside ambitious newcomers, and move the art of magic on from traditional top hats and velvet curtains and into the 21st Century. Expect an intimate, interactive and fun-filled night.

Wed 8th Feb
Wed 14th Mar
Wed 11th Apr
Wed 9th May

Doors 7.30pm
Admission £4

For detaisl and booking tel: 07843 59 00 97.  Email Seedhead Arts here.  Seedhead Arts on Twitter

Best of luck to Caolan from IrishMagicNews

Shane Gillen's TV Pilot and More

According to his Facebook page Shane Gillen is busy filimg a pilot for a TV show.  Not content with that he is also in the planning stages of a new monthly magic show in Dublin.  For more and to be kept updated see Shane's Facebook.

Update on Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 9:09PM by Brendan Byrne

Further digging round has lead to me learn that the TV Pilot is being made by Straywave who also make Fade Street.  Accorinding to an item in The Daily Mail the pilot is being made for RTÉ.  We will keep you posted.

Quentin Reynolds in Genii Magazine

Just a quick heads up and a word of congrats to our very own Quentin Reynolds who had a superb impromptu routine published in this months Genii magazine (Febuary 2012 issue) which features René Lavand on the cover.  The BiP MiC Booktest is a terrific routine which stands on the shoulders of work by Christian Painter, Max Maven, Bob Cassidy and Steve Bedwell.  It is perfect for that situation when you are at a house party and someone asks you to do something.  Something which it turns out will be miraculous.  

To find out all about it and to enjoy great content subscribe to Genii.  I subscribe digitally and read it on my Mac.  it is also availabe on iPad.  This of course means you don't have to wait for it arrive.  Congrats again Quentin.

Funny Fone

Many of our Irish readers will have worked with the subject of our following little fun story.  Others may be familiar with him from his TV, newspaper and other media appearances.  Niall O 'Loughlin for those who are not aware is a massively talented cartoonist and artist who performs at weddings & corporate events and also paints exceptional commisions.  His story, which appeared on Facebook, shows us magicians aren't the only ones getting these odd enquiries.  Niall posts on Facebook...

"Just had a woman on the phone looking to book someone to "do de drawings" at her daughters 21st, she nearly had a heart attack when I gave her a price, told me she met a homeless guy on Grafton street who was drawing on the paths and he said he'd he'd do it for a €100, I told her I'd end up with him if I charged that! I said but ye but his drawings probably don't look like the people and she said that didn't matter!!!! I told her to give one of her nephews or nieces a crayon and a sketch pad and save herself a few quid, she say's jaysus dat's a great idea!! honest!!!"

In a follow-up post Niall caprtures the call with the cartoon below.  Check out Niall's website for more.

Genii Magic Convention

Our friend and editor of Genii magazine Richard Kaufman has announced a great looking convention to mark Genii's 75th Anniverary.  It takes place Oct 4,5 and 6 in Orlando Florida.  Please watch Richard's video below, read further down for details from Richard and visit the convention website here. 

Genii's 75th Anniversary Birthday Bash from Richard Kaufman on Vimeo.

We have (in no particular order): 
Roberto Giobbi
Tom Stone
David Ben
Jim Steinmeyer
John Carney
Eric Mead
Max Maven
Jonathan Pendragon
Jon Racherbaumer
Dr. Sawa. 

Newly booked are:
Eugene Burger
Charlie Frye and Company
R. Paul Wilson
with more to come. 

Plan on arriving by midday Thursday since things will start early that afternoon—we’re going to give you a full three days worth (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday October 4, 5, and 6) in Orlando at The Florida Hotel and Conference Center. 

My friends, and advertisers in Genii, are being extremely generous with goodies for you: DVDs, tricks, booklets, decks of cards, and more—we might even hit a baker’s dozen items that you’ll get for free when you check in on Thursday.

I like to think of everyone who will come to our convention as a unified group—we all have the common interest of having fun and celebrating Genii’s long life by seeing great magic. I’m not going to have more than one event taking place at the same time; you won’t have to choose between things. If you register, you’ll be able to see everything. I also don’t like overbooking registrants solely to make money, and so except for the performances of close-up magic, you won’t be split into groups. If you want to sit next to your friends during every event, be my guest. 

For those who wish to break off and do their own thing, we’ll have places for you to hang out, relax, sit, and session. 

Events will not start at 8 a.m. and drag on until 1 a.m.—you’ll have time to get adequate sleep each night (but if you sit up all night doing tricks, don’t blame me). Starting early Thursday afternoon will allow us to maintain sane hours on Friday and Saturday.

Registrations are $350. Hotel rooms are $99 a night (pay only $147, excluding tax, for three days if you share with a friend). 

Our hotel’s amenities include, specially for our group: 
Free Internet service in your room
Free parking, free bottles of water every day
Free use of the Fitness Center
Free use of the Business Center
Free daily newspaper. 

You’ll be six miles from Orlando International Airport, 10 minutes from Universal Studios (home of The Wizardling World of Harry Potter), and 20 minutes from Walt Disney World, which will be holding its annual Food and Wine Festival at Epcot during that time. 

We have a limited amount of space available. Details are on our special convention website:

www.geniiconvention.com

We would be grateful if you register online. Please book your hotel room at the time of registration, directly through the hotel (details and links are on the convention website: Expedia, Travelocity, and other internet discount sites will not be offering rooms at a less expensive rate because we have blocked off the entire hotel). 

If for some reason using the computer to register gives you the willies, feel free to call the Genii office at 301-652-5800.

Magic Uncorked e-Book launched

As you should be aware Magic Uncorked is the name for this years joint IBM Irish Convention which runs from 27th-29th April in Cork city.  A terrific weekend awaits with talent the calibre of Luke Jermay, John Lenihan, Helder Guimaraes, Quentin Reynolds and Diamond Jim Tyler.

The SBM who are running the convention have been busy fundraising and their latest initiative is both innovative and worthy.  The team behind Magic Uncorked have just released an e-book featuring routines from the booked acts and local club members.  The book comprises 106 pages and features a true smorgasbord of ideas.  As with any compilation of this kind inevitably some ideas are better then others but as a whole this is a wonderful resource.  Something for everyone.  My own personal highlights were Diamond Jim Tyler's Full of Bull and a lovely little game for kids parties from Tommy Maloney called The Hanky Laugh.

A full list of the effects and a purchase link can be found on the Magic Uncorked website.  The e-book is only €10 and in addition to owning the e-book you are also helping fundraise for the convention.  Great stuff!

Keith Duffy to appear on BBC's Magicians Tonight

Irishman Keith Duffy is set to appear on BBC 1's The Magicians tonight.  The programme airs at 18:35 and will see Keith join forces with Pete Firman.  According to one post I saw on Twitter Keith's son Jay is also due to appear.  The Duffy's are no strangers to magic as both farther and son are good friends with anohter Keith, Mr Barry.  In fact there was talk they may have even attended Shenanigans last year but alas was not to be.

No Slow Down for Paddy Ward

The family of Paddy Ward sent along the following little bit.  It sure is lovely to see someone loving what they do so much. 

As part of Padini's  family (daughter Michelle and grand daughter Lisa) we thought we would take this opportunity to write to Irish Magic News, as he is away on holidays in Lanzarote at the moment!

We have asked him to slow down, as he will be 77 this coming February, but all he said was "get lost....you must be joking"!!  We know people say hi is still performing as good as ever and, we can assure this to be the case.  He performed some close up magic in our local bar (Casey's in Sixmilebridge) on St. Stephen's Day, as part of our charity fund raiser for Milford Hospice, and he had everyone mesmerized.  I heard one man say that he was still the "King"!  At 77 years of age he still pulls in the crowds and had a very busy Christmas.  He tells us that he already has bookings for Christmas next year, and is fully booked for Communions and Confirmations in 2012.

Will he ever learn??  To our relief he did cut back on the long distance travelling to perform but that was even a chore to get him to do that!!  Both Vincent Finnucane and himself perform lots of charity gigs - nursing homes, day care centres etc. etc. along with organising shows for various good causes. He tells us that the reward for all this is seeing the joy and hearing the laughter from these people, which is worth it's weight in gold.  Dad has been performing on stage since he was 11 (a long time) and performed all the way up through his working life as an engineer and director. The friends that he has made over the years through magic are countless, and a testament to the fantastic community of magic that is worldwide.  Only for them and the magic, dad would not have coped with the death of our mother Josie at a time when they should have been looking forward to their future together and enjoying the latter years together.  

So, a BIG thank you to all involved in magic and have been part of dad's journey so far.  I'm sure he still has more people to meet and entertain for several years to come!!  As he says - the most important thing is enjoying what you do, be yourself, dress well, present the show in an entertaining way and you will never be short of work, even at the age off 77 - MAGIC KEEPS YOU ALIVE!!

I'm attaching a photo taken at the children's show at St. Michael's School in Tipperary for 300 children.

Thanking you.

Michelle Hogan

Update on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 10:42PM by Brendan Byrne

Martin Duffy sent me tribute to Paddy, titled The Padini Twist, a few moments ago.  

Following on from the recent article re Paddy Ward, I would like to add the following tribute to Paddy.

Many of the great Magicians have had moves named after them.

For example, the Elmsley count or the Hammon count.

Marlo, Koran and Baker spring to mind. But all of these moves pale into insignificance when compared to the Padini Twist.

Faster than Batman with the runs, on his way to the Toilet.

Tougher than a Skinheads boot, funnier than Ken Dodd’s tickling stick. The Padini Twist is guaranteed to slay the toughest audience..

So what is The Padini Twist and who is the man behind it all? I hear you say.

Put simply The Padini Twist is a belief system which states that all the magic that you do should be entertaining first and very magical a close second. Not for Paddy, a very clever vanish with a TT which sometimes screams “ look how clever I am “. Paddy twists this by saying, “ do you see this piece of material? It’s part of my wife’s nightdress, I love making it disappear!

This always brings a smile and laughter to Paddy’s audience. They can’t fail to warm to the man. Everything is said with a mischievous smile and a twinkle in Paddy’s eye and the audience know that they are in for a good time.

Paddy’s magic is rooted in sound common sense. Only yesterday I saw an ad for Michael Ammar’s little hand gimmick. A snip at twenty pounds the ad said. Paddy goes to the local charity shop and buys a doll, he cuts off both hands and has two gimmicks for a euro. Who is the real pro?

Don’t get me wrong, Paddy is no joker when it comes to magic. Paddy’s father was a magician and Paddy grew up learning his craft. He really can cut the mustard so to speak and does so on many occasions. On a recent visit to Paddy, he did a floating wand routine that has to be seen. I said to Paddy, “ tell me that you practice that every day “. Paddy tells me that he hasn’t touched the wand in six months, a measure of the man.

The man behind the move is an even bigger story.

A larger than life figure in many ways, Paddy is a big man with a big heart. Generous with both his time and knowledge, he has very much helped me with my magic since I turned pro. Paddy being an engineer by profession is a very practical man who is blessed with a great streak of creativity. In many ways two opposites coming together to make a very unique magical talent. Rather than just winning magic competitions, and Paddy has won quite a few, Paddy has won the hearts of the people of Limerick where he lived for many years. Walking with him down the street, the car horns honk, the people stop to salute and have the craic with the Great Padini. Paddy armed to the teeth with more weapons of mass deception than Saddam Hussein is soon doing a sponge ball routine and gathering a crowd. I reckon Paddy kissed more women and babies that day than any politician on the campaign trail!

Paddy regularly travels up to Dublin and holds centre stage when five or six of us magicians meet up and have the craic with Munster’s finest.

Paddy who is seventy seven continues to encourage and inspire myself and other magicians and it’s always done with no wish for praise or reward.

To me Paddy is the magician with the likeability factor and audiences very quickly warm to him and trust him. The essence of Paddy is a man who is good at what he does, likes what he does and shows it in his performances.

I wish Paddy many more years of good health and enjoyment on the great magical journey of life.

Martin Duffy.

Update on Friday, January 20, 2012 at 6:39PM by Brendan Byrne

Paddy himself fent us the following note earlier today.

"Hi Irishmagicnews,following my daughters note re me taking things easy.both Terance Andrews and myself performed monday last for 60 mins in Carrigoran Nursing home for 75 Senior citizens photos  attached .When i see the smiles coming on the faces of these unfortunate people and hear them laugh it makes me think isn't it great to be active and well  and be able to bring a little happiness to these people some who dont have any relations visiting them. Terance, Vincent Finucane and myself [Vincent who was'nt with us on this occasion due to hospitalisation for minor operation] usually arrive about an hour before show after setting up, we spend 40mins mixing and talking to them.i will keep up performing with the same vigour as always.Just got word Vincent is fine and the way home."

Thanks Joe

Thanks to Joe O'Donnell who earlier today threw a few sheckles in our tip jar and flys to the top of our Leprechaun list.  If you like the output we produce please feel free to let us know.  Thanks again Joe.

Steve Spades Christmas Cracker

Limerick based Steve Spade appeared on The Daily Show's Christmas Cracker Special on the 28th December.  In a Facebook message prior to airing Steve told me he will be "freaking out the likes of Daniel O'Donnell bending forks ... and some fun festive MAGIC with some of the guests,,Bernard Dunne,2fm Paddy McKenna,celebrity chef Kevin Dundon and many many more....."

The footage has now become available on the RTE Player and you can catc it here.

New Year :: New Arrivlas

Congratulations to Keith Barry & Mairead and to Ger Kearney & Kate on their recent new arrivals.  Keith and Mairead welcomed Braden Barry in to this world just before Christmas.  Writing on Twitter and Facebook Keith said "Been off twitter for a few days. Braden Barry was born on wed at 4.30pm. 10 pounds 5 ounces. Mum and baby doing great. Have a fab Xmas everyone." And, "Thanks for all the nice tweets regarding the new arrival!And for those asking Mairead used just hypnosis for pain management.Worked a treat."

Not only is Keith a new daddy but he also fresh on the road woith his tour of 8 Deadly Sins.  Limited tickets are still available see www.keithbarry.com for details.

Ger, pictured with baby boy Cian, posted on facebook on the 30th Dec "We are the very proud parents of our new baby boy born into this world this morning at 3:30 am. Mom and baby are doing great. Will post pics after our family has been introduced. :)"

I am sure you will all join with me in wishing both families a super 2012.

Seasons Greetings

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous new year.  Thanks to all of you for reading our output, donating to help us achieve what we do and for generally being appreciatitve of what I am doing here with IMN.

President of the SIM Nevin Cody also sent along the following message.

Hi everyone a very warm Merry Christmas to you all and your families. I hope you have a wonderful and peaceful time.

May 2012 be a magical year for all my wish for everyone is health, wealth and happiness. 

To all our friends in magic from other clubs throughout Ireland and from other lands further a field, my same wish to all of you. 

So everyone have a good one, I hope it's not long before we all meet again and share more fun, laughter and of course MAGIC.

Best
Nevin Cody