Quentin Reynolds' Psychic Game Show...

...extended it's run in Lass O Gowry's venue in Manchester. Quentin's final night of this run is tonight Monday 29th March.  This show is destined to have similar runs in the not too distant future.  To keep in the loop check out Quentin's website

New Doc Shiels book?

According to his Facebook last Saturday week Keith Barry will be working with Doc Shields in the not too distant future.  "Looking forward to getting Doc Shiels notes on the book we're writing......a LEGEND if ever there was one......." Keith posted.  In response, one Aoife Shiels (a relation perhaps) writes "Haha, good luck with that."  We will keep you updated.

Pat Fallon brings his Rabbits, Hats & Big Boxes show...

...to the Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire, Saturday 3rd April at 7pm. A rare opportunity awaits you to catch Ireland's top all round magician present his full evening family show.  Cabaret magic, his dove act and of course illusions all feature.  Tickets cost €18/€15 consession.  Family tickets may become available so please ask the box office at the time of booking if this interests you.   Box Office 01 2312929 or on line at www.paviliontheatre.ie  Please note that due to this being Easter Saturday the show starts at the earlier time of seven o'clock.

IBM Ring 85 Convention 2010 Update

Thom Peterson "The Amazing Guy" and partner Annabel De Vetten have joined the list of performers for the upcoming IBM Ring 85 Convention in Belfast over the forthcoming May bank holiday weekend.  Thom is a very funny comedy magician.  You can check out his promo below.  Annabel de Vetten is a leading figurative artist whose work has recently featured on "The Jill Deck" and her images of magicians are currently on display in Illusions Magic Bar in Bristol.  You can see further examples of her work on her site here 

In other IBM Ring 85 Convention news organisers have added a junior registration for under 16's.  To take advantage of this a junior must be accompanied by a full convention adult registration.  Also the cut off point for entry to the competitions is Friday 23rd April. If a sufficient
number of entries have not been receved before that date then the Competition will be cancelled and an alternative event arranged.  For full information, online registration and more on the IBM Ring 85 Convention visit here

Congratulations to SIM member Aidan Murphy...

...who qualified for the final of talent competition "Stars in the Bars" at last friday's semi-final.  Posting on our facebook he said, "First week I got through on the judges vote. Semi finals was down to the audience to vote and I got through. I had the most votes. 6625 points. The second place was a singer who had 6115 points. The final took place last friday as you were aware of and I got through on the judges vote. I did the magic square followed by bill in the lemon then I finished off by getting someone in the audience to burst a balloon and inside I had predicted on a piece of paper as to who was going to be in the act. Kieth Barry's finishing act from stage. I'm now through to the county final which will be taking place in a few weeks time against the other finalists from the pubs around westmeath. There is a first prize of 1000 euro and second and third prizes will be given out. Then the finalist from that final will go through to the national final and that first prize will be €7,500, second prize €2,500, third prize of €1,000."

The Secret Castle of Magic continues...

...at Castle Dracula in Clontarf.  We caught the show last Sunday and can highly recommend it to those looking for an intriguing and fun night out.  Magicians Pat Fallon and Nevin Cody join Mr Secret Castle himself Ronan MacGabhann every second Sunday.  Recent visitors to the Castle included John Bowden, Aonghus McAnally, Joe Fortune and Stephen Thompson.  All reporting great things.  To find out for yourself and to book tickets visit www.secretcastleofmagic.com

Tony Sadar has posted some...

...of his many TV performances stemming over the years on Youtube.  From his dove act on the Sean Dunphy Show to his mind control appearance on The Late Late Show with Gay Byrne, it's all there.  You can watch the Sean Dunphy clip below or view all the videos on Tony's Youtube channel here.  Tony runs the incredible Mindscope clinic and specialises in helping people give up smoking.  Tony is regularly praised by Keith Barry for his work in this field.  To find out more about Tony and Mindscope visit their website

Pat Fallon lecture review

Following his lecture at this years Blackpool Convention Pat Fallon was invited to lecture at the Manchester Circle of Magicians(MCM).  MCM member Mike Hinde reviewed it and has kindly granted permission for his piece to appear on these pages.

"Pat Fallon is a seasoned and experienced professional with over twenty years being paid for what most of us can only dabble at. Is he any better than we are? Errr… yes.

He was standing in at short notice and had already lectured at Blackpool to an appreciative crowd. He quickly got the MCM members in the palm of his hand by grabbing their attention and doing a quick thumb tip routine. No microphone needed for Pat as he projected his clear and confident voice all around the room. He is a professional. 

He scampered through a range of effects that he uses in his shows time and time again. Try putting “scamper magician” into Google and you get 16,100 hits.. If you include Fallon” you get 9,010. says it all eh? 

First was a raffle prediction effect with four bags and four envelopes and four “prizes”. Analysing the magicality content of this effect would not score highly but it is versatile, plays funny, plays long, is simple to perform and, errr… is typical of a professional who knows what is right. He is that professional. 

He showed a paper tear which transformed into a chef’s hat and then to an artist’s beret as an ideal opening into the magic painting book. Then quickly moved onto an invisible purse routine with sponge balls and this is where I was in danger of getting sucked into the performance and forgetting I am reporting. Where’s that pen.

A set of cards with authors written on the back was used and the spectator picks one, it happens to be James Joyce, as does the book in a bag. Simple R&S forcing deck with a routine based on a Paul Daniels effect and what is so good about it? Magically not very much. But it could play to any theme, versatile, plays funny, plays long, is simple to perform and, errr… is typical of a professional who knows what is right. Sorry, just realised I said that before. 

A balloon was pierced with a large needle and red thread (good for visibility) along with a patter of children, doctors and needles. This effect is usually performed as an “I am going to push this needle through the balloon without bursting it” and flows much better with a story. Maybe it is the Irish in Pat but he does know how to tell a good story. He is a professional (did I mention that before?) 

An Australian Kangaroo theme gave reason for some lager bottles in tubes to turn over (Australia is upside down?) with a spectator’s attempts at “do as I do” being repeatedly unsuccessful. 

Pat has had 86 TV appearances and clearly this is not just luck. He explained what a show and director are looking for and the importance of hooking exactly into their need. An example was his Houdini routine which he had performed at last Halloween on Irish TV. Again, magically on the less challenging side but a terrific story line with lots of interlinking effects including picture frame, torn card, etc. 

His final effect, Irish 3 card trick, was typical of Pat Fallon. I am sure if you woke him up in the middle of the night, left the lights off, and stuck the cards in his hands he could do the full routine. We might sit there and think “that one is a double backer, there goes an Elmsley count” whereas a real audience would simply think “Wow” because, after all, he is a professional" 

The MSM & Terence Andrews are Leprechauns

Thank you to The Munster Society of Magicians and (independently) Terence Andrews who have joined our Leprechaun list.  It is through donations like this that this site and by extension the industry here continues to strive.  If you or your Society or business would like to donate you can do so either by paypal or in person.  Thanks again guys.

Congratulations to Naomi Rush...

...who won the Junior Performer of the Month Trophy at the Mid-Ulster Magic Circle with an entertaining square-circle routine which culminated in the production of Easter eggs for everyone present.  The juniors have all been working extremely diligently honing their skills since their recent appearance on Ulster Television.  The Club meets every Wednesday in Lurgan Town Hall at 8.00pm. New members are always welcome.  www.midulstermagiccircle.co.uk

Eugene Lambert RIP

News that entertainer and puppet master Eugene Lambert sadly passed away reached us last Tuesday. Irish Magic was represented and the funeral mass last Thursday evening by Pat Fallon, Brendan Byrne, Neville Wiltshire, Tony Sadar and life long friend of Eugene's - past president of the SIM Joe O'Donnell.  We asked Joe, a former prducer/director/writer of Wanderly Wagon, to pen a small tribute.

I have known Eugene Lambert for so long that it seems as though a part of me has died with his passing. We first became friends in the late fifties when Eugene was pursuing his career as a ventriloquist with a cheeky doll called Frankie. This doll was later transmogrified into Finnegan who still surfaced from time to time with Eugene trying to stuff Finnegan back in his case while the doll thrashed around and roared : “Mind me bloody head Eugene, I’m in upside down!”

We met frequently in those days in the garage at the back of Albert LeBas’ house in Rathmines, a place which he dolled up with red lights and called the Druids' Den. In truth it had the faint and sulphurous whiff of a Bombay Brothel. Ostensibly a place where Albert could sell magic stuff, it in fact was more of a magician’s late night club.

When I joined RTE, I was delighted to work on Eugene’s early puppet shows–Cearta Hudaí, Murphy agus a Cháirde, and–inevitably–WANDERLY WAGON. I worked on Wanderly initially as a floor manager and fell in love with the programme, not only for the magical production that it was, but for its sheer potential. The original producer, a Canadian called Don Lennox, left RTE and the Wagon was dropped. I vowed that if ever I became a producer, my first job would be to bring back the Wagon. This I managed to do, and for many years was the producer/director of the programme as well as writing over thirty episodes.

The beauty of Wanderly Wagon was that the format allowed all sorts of experimentation and we were the first to introduce CSO (Colour Separation Overlay) or Chromakey which allowed all sorts of magical effects. For a magician–and I was still practicing at that time–it was like being allowed access to the biggest magical set ever.

Although forever associated with WANDERLY WAGON, Eugene’s undoubted legacy will be the Lambert Puppet Theatre where many generations of children were introduced to the magic of theatre in that wonderland in Clifton Lane.

I’m sure wherever he is, Eugene is negotiating a few special appearances, provided of course the money is right!

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam díilis.

Puppeteer Eugene Lambert dies - Irish Times - Click here

RTE News Report & Morning Ireland interview with Emily Tully , Eugene's granddaughter - Click here

(Ed. Note.  Joe O'Donnell was very very close to Eugene.  We sincerely thank him for taking the time to write this tribute at what is a difficult time.  We offer our deepest sympathies to Joe and all of Eugene's family and friends.)

Keith Barry and yours truly...

... were both guests on Scott Wells reports from the Blackpool Magic Convention 2010 for the Magic News Wire.  You can listen to all the reports here.  Other guest contributors include  Tim Trono of Murphy's Magic Supplies, Banachek, Paul Nardini, the Blackpool Kid's Show Champion Oscar Munoz, Keith Barry, Franz Harary, FISM International President Eric Eswin  Hank Moorehouse, Levent, Ian Rowland, Mathew Field & James Clark.  With regard to my own contribution all I will say is that I had had a few beers so no slagging on the slurring please.

Quickchange supremos David and Dania...

..are to perform in Ireland this summer.  It is over 4 years since David and Dania performed at the Limerick convention so it is great to see them heading back our way.  We bumped in to Dania after the Blackpool Gala Show where she told yours truly that they have been booked to perform at this years Street Performance World Championships in Cork and Dublin.  The event takes place in June.  Keep an eye on IrishMagicNews for more information as it becomes available.

Hypnotist Barry Sinclair brings...

...his show Power Beyond Belief to Malahide Rugby Club.  Barry is probably Ireland's most successful stage hypnotist and his shows have been seen in colleges, theatres & cruise ships the world over. The show will be at Malahide Rugby Club on the 12th March.  Doors open at 8 30 pm and admission is €15 which you can pay at the door.

IBM Ring 85 Convention 2010 Update

Frank Allen "Alain the Teller of Tales"......has been added to the line up for the Irish Ring 85 Diamond Jubilee convention from April 30th - 2nd May in Belfast.  Frank will be presenting a lecture on bizarre magic and performing on the Close-up show courtesy of Kaymar Magic who have just released his new DVD.  He joins other lecturers Steve Dela, John Kimmons and Paul Gordon and additional performances from Neil Henry, Lee Hathaway and local prize winners Caolan McBride & Nicola.  Don't forget that if you register for the convention before Monday march 1st you could win back the cost of your registration.  For more information and to register see www.online-usm.com