BELFAST IS MAGIC MAGICON IS BACK

Belfast will be a magical place this May Bank Holiday weekend as up to one hundred professional and amateur magicians from Ireland, the United Kingdom and abroad converge on The Malone Hotel from 2nd-4th May for MagiCon 2025 hosted by The Ulster Society of Magicians, funded here in 1942.

The event takes place in Northern Ireland every three years and this year is co-organised for the seventh time by Society Secretary James Hobart. While some events take place behind closed doors for magicians only the event is open to “muggles” for three shows and a Gala Dinner and Cabaret.

Firstly, on Friday night we have “The Magic Mod”, appearing for one night prior to his next U.K. tour. “Rock’n’Roll’s favourite magician” is a title given to him from being a magician that has toured with bands such as Paul Weller, The Libertines and Pete Doherty. The Mod brings his love of music and magic together in one action packed show that is not to be missed. A proud member of the world-famous Magic Circle he has also appeared on television including a program made about one of his heroes Tommy Cooper What do you get if you put Tommy Cooper, Liam Gallagher, Paul Daniels and Paul Weller into a mixer? You get the Magic Mod !

On Saturday morning we have “The FizzWizzPop Magic show” - an immersive and interactive magical experience for children and families. FizzWizzPop is guaranteed to make you, and your children laugh, smile and really enjoy what a magic show should be… an entertaining performance that brings people together through this girl’s love of magic! This show is interactive, colourful and designed to engage children from toddlers up. The Magic age for a FizzWizzPop magic show is 6 because this is the stage where children really engage with magic and are very curious about the world around them and are guaranteed to remember it.

Saturday evening brings a four course Gala Dinner with drinks reception, raffle and after dinner cabaret. Closeup magic will happen at your table from Fay Presto and others and Griffin and Jones supply the onstage show. Award-winning tricksters Griffin & Jones, famous for their high energy comedy and slapdash magic, are likely to have you glued to your seats and rolling in the aisles in equal measures. Whether trying to flog you snake-oil, coerce you into playing one of their ridiculous games, or leaving you watching through your fingers in horror, these guys will leave you not only asking how they did it, but why!

On Sunday evening “Stars Of Magic” will be introduced by the iconic Fay Presto. Current President of The Ulster Society of Magicians and a former Tatler ‘Party Entertainer of the Year’, Fay has been personally requested to entertain the late HM Queen Elizabeth on no less than six occasions, as well as performing for every other senior member of the Royal family. A Gold Star Member of The Inner Magic Circle, her powerful personality-based magic and ability to connect with an audience has set a standard within the magic industry. Fay will introduce local prize winner Nikola Arkane, Quentin Reynolds from Dublin and Tom Stone from Stockholm.

As the ‘Diva of Magic’, our headliner. Romany is the first and only woman to be named The Magic Circle Stage Magician of the Year, the only British winner of the prestigious Las Vegas World Magic Awards, and a member of the exclusive inner circle of The Magic Circle. She has performed on Penn and Teller’s Fool Us and by personal invite for King Charles

MagiCon is taking place from 2nd to 4th May 2025 and for magicians only there will be private lectures and seminars as well as traders selling the latest magical effects. These are not restricted to members of Magic clubs and Societies – you just need to have a genuine interest (and be prepared to pay the relevant registration fee) Any minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Full details of the convention can be found on our website here https://www.ulstersocietyofmagicians. com