Holocaust survivor Tomi tells his story to packed DkIT audience
DUNDALK native Paddy Ward, known as Great Padini, wowed the four judges and audience on Ireland’s Got Talent on Saturday night and said he still has a few more tricks up his sleeve. THE 84-year-old began performing magic tricks as a young old, taking after his father Benni who died aged 44.
HE performed his first show in the Oriel Cinema in Dundalk as a ten year old and never looked back.
Paddy left Dundalk and lived in Limerick for 34 years, working as an industrial engineer.
It was there that he got the name ‘ The Grad Padini’. ‘Years ago when the tourists were coming from Australia, they used to stop at the Ryan Hotel in Limerick, I was asked to do a couple of shows for them at night time, my name is Paddy and the famous Houdini, so I changed my name to Patini and it has stuck.
Paddy has won numerous awards for his magic. For five years running he won the International Brotherhood of Magician Ring 85 Shield as Ireland’s Top Magician, a feat that has yet to be matched.
His appearance on Ireland’s Got Talent was by no means his first time on the tv screens. He was in high demand following his international success with slots on RTÉ’s Live at Three and Play the Game, the Gerry Kelly presented Kelly on UTV plus shows broadcast by the BBC.
HE now lives in Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, close to his daughter Michelle while his son Nigel lives in Australia. His brother Brian lives in Blackrock
The death of his wife Josie forced him to take a break from magic and he described her passing to producers of the show as ‘ the hardest thing I’ve ever had to face in my life.’