Making magic is just the trick for ‘Cillian The Great’

The proud father of a ten-year-old autistic boy from Mornington who is Ireland’s youngest magician says that his son's interest in magic has changed his life. 

Richie O’Connor has described how Cillian who has Autism and Dyspraxia became ‘obsessed’ with magic after watching aspiring magician Issy Simpson’s performance on Britain’s Got Talent. Now the 4th class student in Realt na Mara Boys National School in Donacarney AKA ‘Cillian the Great’ has become the youngest member ever of the Society of Irish Magicians. 

The student who once struggled to interact socially is now performing shows to crowds of people according to dad Richie.

“After seeing Issy on TV he kept asking us when can I meet her, we tried to explain that Issy lived in a different country and that she would be very busy, but we would check to see if she was performing somewhere and bring him to see her. Because of his autism once he gets something in his head he doesn't let it go." 

Ten-year-old magic marvel 'Cillian the Great'

“My wife Elaine sent a chance message on Facebook to her page and with disbelief Issy’s grandfather made contact and we arranged for Cillian and his sister Casey to meet Issy in person.

This meeting with Issy and her grandfather was in Cillian’s words “the best day of my life” leading him on to meet mega magic stars including Dynamo and DMC. Magic now plays a huge part in the development of Cillian’s social, motor and interaction skills according to the proud dad. 

“Issy’s grandfather Russ Stevens would have been a famous magician in his day and is now Issy’s mentor. They live in Blackpool so we went over there for the weekend and met up and Cillian and Issy instantly became friends.

“They invited us down to a local magic show that was being performed in one of the theatres and while there we learned about the Blackpool Magic Convention, the biggest magic convention in the world. 

Cillian became 'obsessed' with magic after seeing Issy Simpson on Britain's Got Talent

It was here that Cillian got the chance to meet his hero, international magic sensation Dynamo.

“We were literally sitting in a restaurant having a cup of tea ready to pick our bags up and go back to the airport when a friend of Elaine texted her and said Dynamo was downstairs, there was a huge crowd around him but we got Cillian up to the front. He was so nice and very generous with his time.”

The Donacarney schoolboy is the youngest member ever of the Society of Irish Magicians. Membership usually requires a formal audition but Cillian’s talent was spotted and he was instantly fast-tracked.

“He was meant to do an audition but the first night we turned up Cillian was doing a few magic tricks for people there, he was only eight at the time and one or two of the magicians were grabbing other magicians saying have a look at what this kid is doing. They were in shock and offered Cillian a place straight away. 

The 4th class student spends all his time perfecting his magic tricks

“His confidence and interaction socially have improved dramatically since he started magic. He has learned how to interact and communicate in a way he never did before. He would sit in the corner with a book before this and talk to nobody. It has been a godsend.

“Every time we see the HSE care group he performs for them and they are amazed that he can now do an elaborate trick where he wouldn’t have been able to button up his own shirt a couple of years ago.”

Along with magic, Cillian who was selected to attend the Centre for the Talented Youth of Ireland in DCU, a youth programme for students between the ages of six and seventeen of high academic ability became fascinated with the Rubik's Cube and even competed in the World Cube Association's Irish Championships in Lucan, Dublin last year. 

"There are several different types of Rubik's cubes and one Christmas the only thing on his Santa list were all of them.

"We were never able to get it to work for us but he took himself away practising and studying algorithms then after a few weeks one Friday morning he solved it before we went to school and now he can solve it in 54 seconds."

Magic marvel Cillian has become the youngest member ever of the Society of Irish Magicians

“Before this, he would take himself away on his own and would have no eye contact now he goes up to strangers and shows them tricks. He is much more interactive now playing with other children, we can’t believe it.

“Magic has opened up a whole new world for him. We are so proud.”

Ireland’s young magic marvel explains what he loves most about performing. 

“I enjoy entertaining people. I want to see people happy, the best way to perform a show is to add a bit of laughter in there. My favourite tricks to do are anything with cards. I love to see the look of surprise on their faces.”

The young magician who has appeared on RTE Junior and performed at the Fleadh in Drogheda has his sights set high for the future.

“I’d like to work as a part-time magician and part-time footballer because I support Liverpool and enjoy playing soccer.”