Irish 'mentalist' Keith Barry performing in Kells next month

Magician Keith Barry is appearing in the Headfort Arms Hotel, Kells, on Saturday 12th September next. 'Keith Barry - Direct from Vegas' features the best of Barry's magic including material from his time in Las Vegas in 2008, plus a compilation of brand new never-been-seen before mind illusions, created especially for Irish audiences. Since winning the coveted Merlin Award for 'Mentalist of the Year 2009', demand for Barry's performances has gone through the roof, resulting in many more dates being added all over Ireland in September stopping off at Headfort Arms in Kells on 12th September. The Merlin Award is to magic what the Oscar is to the movies and is judged by the members of the International Magicians Society. Previous winners include Penn and Teller, Paul Daniels, and David Copperfield. Barry completed a month long residency as the newest 'Las Vegas Strip Headline Act' in Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in October 2008. Celebrities who attended Barry's shows in Planet Hollywood include Jason Statham, Paris Hilton, Bette Midler, Sean Maguire, Mel B, and Charles Fleisher. After starring in his own show 'Brainwashed' on MTV in the US, Barry is poised to become one of the select magician and illusionists to enjoy mainstream stardom in the USA. His talents range from sleight of hand effects (manipulating objects such as cards, coins) to mind control effects (metal bending, reading people's minds) to the 'beyond belief' (making it snow in Dublin, catching a bullet in his teeth and driving while blindfolded on a public road). The quick witted Irishman has also risen to fame in Europe following the success of his hit TV series, 'Close Encounters with Keith Barry'. Barry started performing magic at the age of fourteen after purchasing a book entitled 'Magic for the complete Klutz' while on a school tour to Edinburgh. The first effect he learned from the book was the vanishing handkerchief and from that point onwards Barry knew what his destiny would be. He was working in the Kitchen Nightclub, owned by U2, where he attracted the attention of Eamonn Maguire who now manages Keith with Principle Management.