Clare hosts Ireland’s first international magic convention in over a decade
CLARE will host its first international magic convention in over a decade, with some of the world’s most renowned magicians gather on November 18 and 19 for the inaugural Mid-West Magic Convention.
Treacy’s West County Hotel, Ennis will host world record holder Jay Sankey, TikTok sensation Aidan Murphy and America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Ryland Petty throughout the convention weekend.
A star-studded lineup will perform for the gala evening performance on Sunday 19, while event goers can mix with professional magicians, magical hobbyists, dealers, collectors of magical apparatus, and other students of the art of magic throughout the weekend.
There will be free entry (excluding Gala evening) to the Mid-West Magic Convention for under 14s, who are accompanied by an adult, in what organisers hope will draw younger people to the world of magic.
“This is a significant moment for the country’s large community of magicians,” said award-winning magician, Leon Andersen, from Limerick.
“The Midwest Magic Convention brings together magicians and magic enthusiasts from all over the world and features a diverse range of magic from close-up tricks to grand stage illusions to a magic marketplace, where event goers can purchase tricks, books and other magical paraphernalia.”
The international event has been secured for the Mid-West Region through funding support from the Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau and Fáilte Ireland.
Event participant Ryland Petty, who has been performing magic since the age of two, created international headlines last year when he reached the semi-final of Britain’s Got Talent at the age of just nine.
Earlier this year, the English magician reached the semi-final of the eighteenth season of America’s Got Talent.
Danielle Devaney of the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, said: “We look forward to establishing Ireland and the Mid-West region as an annual event host in the magic circle worldwide.
“It presents a great opportunity for people in Ireland to view and meet with magicians from home and abroad as they put on a collective demonstration of their magical talents.”
Canada’s Jay Sankey holds the world record for creating more unique magic tricks than any other living magician, will perform alongside Ireland's TikTok sensation Aidan Murphy who has racked up 1.6m followers performing tricks on the social platform.
Other performing magicians include Craig Petty, Colm Dawson and Nick Lopaco from the US, who is the official magician of Penguin Magic - the largest retail magic shop in the world.