Ennis to host magic convention this weekend

THE first international magic convention in Ireland in over 10 years, will take place in Ennis this weekend.

Some of the world’s most renowned magicians will gather at Treacy’s West County Hotel this Saturday and Sunday for the inaugural Mid-West Magic Convention.

Event goers will be given the opportunity to mix with professional magicians, magical hobbyists, collectors of magical apparatus, and other students and enthusiasts of magic throughout the convention weekend.

World record holder Jay Sankey, TikTok sensation Aidan Murphy, and ‘America’s Got Talent’ and ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ semi-finalist Ryland Petty are amongst the lineup for the gala evening performance on Sunday while allow event goers will be able to mix with professional magicians, magical hobbyists, dealers, collectors of magical apparatus, and other students of the art of magic throughout the convention weekend.

The international event has been secured for the Mid-West Region through funding support from the Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau and Fáilte Ireland.

Hosting the magical gathering is Leon Andersen from Limerick. Leon has been practising magic for over 20 years and has incorporated magic into the education system with magic programmes aimed at helping numeracy and literacy skills.

His time spent practicing magic has been well awarded, receiving the IBM Ring 85 Stage Magician of the Year award, and being named

Irish Stage Magician of the Year twice. Proud to be a part of the magical gathering, he commented: “As Ireland’s first annual celebration of the art of magic in Ireland in over a decade, this is a significant moment for the country’s large community of magicians. 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”.

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Event participant Ryland Petty, who has been performing magic since the age of 2, created international headlines last year when he reached the semi-final of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ at the age of just 9. Earlier this year, the English magician reached the semi-final of the eighteenth season of ‘America’s Got Talent’.

Canada’s Jay Sankey, who holds the world record for creating more unique magic tricks than any other living magician, will also be performing in Ennis 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 (UK), Colm Dawson (Ireland) and Nick Lopaco from the United States who is the official magician of "Penguin Magic" - the largest retail magic shop in the world.

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.

See midwestmagicconvention.com fore full details.