Keith Barry’s Magical New Year Party

Keith Barry, who presents the New Year’s Festival celebrations in Dublin on RTÉ One, spoke to Jess O’sullivan ahead of the big day

Is there still a trick that you would love to master?

I’d love to master a trick called‘any card at any number’. It’s a trick where a spectator names any card and any number between 1 and 52 and, without the magician ever touching the deck, the named card appears at that number. It’s the Holy Grail of card magic.

Do you use your special skills to get the exact presents you want from family and friends?

I don’t use my special skills to get the presents I want - I simply ask! I’m very basic really and not very materialistic so don’t look for many presents. However, if a metal detector is under the tree this year, I won’t complain.

What was your biggest performance blooper of 2018?

I was on stage in Waterford performing an underwater escape as the nal illusion. I had huge trouble picking the locks during the escape and nearly passed out. Luckily, I did manage to escape, but the audience were aware that I was in trouble. I was seconds away from passing out under water.

What’s the best Christmas present you’ve ever received?

The Paul Daniels Magic set I got when I was ve years old. It changed the course of my life forever.

If you could plant one thought in every Irish person’s head for 2019, what would it be?

I’d implant: Be the person that makes others smile. Find and follow your passion with all your heart. Listen more. Only surround yourself by positive, like-minded people.

Will you be making any New Year’s resolutions this year?

I believe in living every day like it’s your last and have no regrets, so I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. If I want to change a habit I don’t wait until Dec 31st to do it.