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!

Diamond Jim Tyler added to line up for Magic UnCorked

Texan magician Diamond Jim Tyler has been added to the line up for Magic UnCorked, next years Irish Magic Convention hosted by the SBM and in conjunction with IBM Ring 85 which runs in Cork from April 27th to April 29th.  Diamond Jim joins Quentin Reynolds, Helder Guimarães, John Lenahan, Luke Jermay and a host of others to be announced at what promises to be a superb weekend of magic.  For all the lastest info on Magic UnCorked visit their website, follow them on Twitter or find them on Facebook.

Magic UnCorked :: Irish IBM Convention :: Cork - April 2012

Full details will be released next week.  In the meantime enjoy this little teaser video.

Joint Irish IBM Convention in April 2012

As some of you may be aware from our post below.  The Munster Society of Magicians have decided not to host The IBM Ring 85 Convention next year.  In lieu of this The Southern Brotherhood of Magicians IBM Ring 363 have stepped up to the mark and will be running a 1½ day convention in Cork.

This is very exciting and welcome news.  What makes it all the more great is the fact that both The Southern Brotherhood of Magicians IBM Ring 363 and IBM Ring 85 will be jointly hosting this convention.  Harmony in the Irish magic community continues to grow.  

News of this event was only broken at last weekend's Shenanigans and as such full details are still being finalised.  Until we hear otherwise we have decided to refer this event as The Joint IBM Bash.

ibm ring 85 convention round-up

Congratulations to The USM and IBM Ring 85 for a great weekend of magic at their recent convention in Belfast.  As always with Irish conventions it is the atmosphere created by the acts and convention goer's that make it all happen and Belfast proved this in droves.  A high quality line up of acts and pleasant company coupled with probably the best produced Gala show of recent years, including the ones your editor co-produced, ensured a smashing time for one and all.  The highlight of the weekend for most that I chatted to was John Kimmons.  John is a superb magician & vent and his Gala show performance and lecture were quite simply hysterical.  Many thanks to organisers James Hobart, Alan Kennedy and George Bleeks.  

The competition results we as follows -

The Gemini Award (For best under 18/young magician) - Paddy Gibson (SIM)

Close-up competitions.

The John Bowden Trophy (for IBM members) - Nevin Cody (SIM)

The Tony Thursby Award (for non IBM members) - Paddy Gibson (SIM)

Stage Competitions.

The IBM Shield (for IBM members) - Nevin Cody (SIM)

The 4 Provinces Trophy (for non IBM members) - Magic George (USM)

The Eric Pollock award went to The Society of Irish Magicians.

Speaking of Nevin, at the last SIM meeting your editor recorded a live interview with both Nevin and Joe O'Donnell which we hope to have up on our next issue.  Pictured are Caolan McBride & Nicola with outgoing IBM Ring 85 President Paul Gomac.

shenanigans - irish magic convention 2011

David Williamson will star at Shenanigans, the new name for the Dublin leg of the Irish Magic Convention which will take place 29th Apr - 1st May 2011.  Shenanigans is being hosted by The SIM and in association with IBM Ring 85.

A word from Shenanigans organisers - "For the few who may be unaware of just how good David is, a full biog of his appearances is available on wikipedia here  As the saying goes 'he's worth the price of the convention.'

Big things are planed for Shenanigans, with the help of our sponsors Tourism Dublin we hope to deliver a world class, intimate convention for the Irish magic scene.  Our new headquarters hotel, which you can read about on our website, offers superb facilities, secure convention centre that is exclusively ours for the duration of the convention, mouthwatering food & beverages and very reasonable and competitive room rates.

All of this plus more exciting performers and lecturer's to be announced means we are very excited about the future of Irish magic and hope that with the support and goodwill of all on this island that we all benefit form what lies ahead.

We have developed a designated convention site for Shenanigans which you can view at www.irishmagicconvention.com  There you will be able to register your interest in attending, become a fan on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to keep abreast of developments."

IBM Ring 85 Convention 2010 Update

Hope to see as many of you as possible in Belfast at the IBM Ring 85 Diamond Jubilee Convention next weekend.  Places for both the stage and close up competitions are still available but filling up quickly.  If you haven't already please let convention organiser James Hobart know that you are intending to attend.  All contact details are on the USM Website We will have a review of the convention in our next issue on 10th May.

Your editor recently acquired an iPhone and will be uploading video highlights of the convention at the end of each day.  I hope to catch up with familiar faces in addition to visiting artists so those of you who are unable to attend will get a sense of whats happening.  These video highlights will not be uploaded here until our next issue as I have no access to my publishing software when away from the office.  You will be able to view any footage we take on our Facebook or Twitter streams.

IBM Ring 85 Convention 2010 News

A message from IBM Ring 85 Convention Organiser James Hobart -

The Ulster Society of Magicians meeting tonight (Monday April 12^th) will take place at The Stormont Hotel in Belfast. This is in preparation of their hosting of the IBM Irish Ring 85 convention from April 30th - May 2nd 2010, to show off the facilities on offer. The 'Press Launch' commences at 7.30pm for 8pm and is open to all. Sneak previews of the weekend's performers will be on offer, together with live performances and one (un)lucky guest will be sawn in half !  

Competitions 

Organisers have asked IrishMagicNews to remind readers that it has been decided to have a cut-off date when it will be decided if each of the convention competitions will go ahead. This has been set as 23^rd April. Effectively, this means, if the minimum number of entrants for a competition has not been reached by this date, that competition will not be held. This does not mean that entrants won’t be accepted after this date - if the minimum number has been reached then entrants will still be accepted right up to near competition time. Our main reason for taking this step is so that they have time to arrange alternative entertainment if a competition is not going to run. 

Memorial Lectures 

Two of the lectures at the convention this year are memorial lectures. The annual Ted Oldham Memorial will be given by Steve Dela. The first Wallace Blair Memorial Lecture will be given by Thom Petersen. These are particularly fine tributes to two particularly fine gentlemen who did so much for the society and magic in Ireland. 

Junior Registrations 

I am pleased to let you know that there is now a reduced convention rate for under-16s. Please note that all Junior Registrants must be accompanied by an adult paying Full Registration who will be in attendance and remain responsible for the Junior at all events. 

Souvenir Polo Shirts 

Limited Edition Black Polo shirts, embroidered with the IBM logo and “Ring 85 Belfast 2010” will be available for pre-order only and collection at the convention. Made by “Fruit of the Loom”, please email or text your order to James Hobart - sizes S, M, L, XL and XXL are all only £10 each.

Contacts 

For those of you who would like to enter the stage and/or the close up competition, please contact Alan Kennedy on 07890 718994 or by email at magic.al@hotmail.co.uk .  

For registration queries, please contact George Bleeks on 07860 115611 or by email at george.bleeks@ntlworld.com.  

For all other enquiries, please contact Alan Kennedy (details above) or James Hobart on 0771 3 351848 or by email at j.hobart@btinternet.com or visit www.online-usm.com where you will find all the details and also be able to register online or download a registration form. 

Only a month to go till the convention!

With just over a month to go till Irish Magicians converge on Belfast for the IBM Diamond Jubilee Convention the organisers have just released their convention poster.  Impressive we think you will agree. 

Online facilities this year mean that booking cannot be easier and has already attracted one Wizard all the way from Oz !

The USM have invested a huge amount of effort (and money) to bring world class magicians to your doorstep so please support them and let them know you are coming, even if you are planning to register at the door.

Junior Registrations - as announced in the last issue of IrishMagicNews have now been added to the online booking facility.

It is likely that by now the Stormont Hotel is already fully booked but the Park Avenue is currently offering a very good three night deal for £170 Bed and Breakfast for a twin or double room. That will save you £130 on the Stormont which will go a long way towards taxis and liquid refreshment in the wee small hours. Who goes to a magic convention to sleep anyway ?

For those who can only attend for part of the weekend a Provisional Programme of Events has been published on the USM website.  Friday night will offer your first opportunity to register at leisure and visit the Dealers before a cabaret show. This will be hosted by Steve Dela under his “Fantasmagoria” brand, currently running monthly in London and Brighton, with guest appearances from two well known Irish Magicians.

Saturday will see additional Dealers setting out their stalls, three lectures, the Close up Gala, Banquet and Stage Competition. Later Neil Henry will present his one man show which received rave reviews in the Magic Circular among others.

Sunday is your last chance to spend money in the Dealers Hall and features two more lectures and the Close up Competition. Highlight of Sunday is of course “Diamond Jubilee Magic” when Neil Henry will introduce The McMaster Stage School, Caolan McBride & Nicola, Lee Hathaway a.k.a. “Tall Daniels”, Steve Dela, George Bleeks, John Kimmons and Thom Peterson in our Grand Finale. 

IBM Ring 85 Convention 2010 Update

Steve Dela, Caolan McBride & Nicola and abcMagic have been added to the line up for the IBM Ring 85 Convention next May. For all the up to date information regarding this event please click visit www.online-usm.com