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.
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:35PM 
