The proud father of a ten-year-old boy with autism says a love for magic tricks has changed his son’s life.
Young Cillian O’Connor from Mornington, Co Meath has become the youngest ever member of the Society of Irish Magicians.
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.
The student, who once struggled to make eye contact or interact socially, is now performing shows to crowds of people according to dad Richie.
His dad Richie explained: “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.”
“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. It feels like a miracle.
“Magic has opened up a whole new world for him. We are so proud.”
Cillian beamed: “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 people’s faces.”
The young magician who has appeared on RTE Junior and performed at the Fleadh in Drogheda is also hoping to work his magic on the soccer pitch when he is older.
“I’d like to work as a part-time magician and part-time footballer, I support Liverpool and love playing soccer.”
