By Andy Spearman
Mornington’s maestro of magic, Cillian O’Connor, has come a long way since he began performing for passers-by at the gateway to his home at Church Road in 2020. Last year he came third in Britain’s got Talent and now he’s appearing on TV in the US show America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League!
One trick especially amazed me back in 2020, Cillian solved the Rubik’s cube in seconds with the cube behind his back! I’ve never managed to solve the dreaded cube, ever. I was mightily impressed!
I didn’t think about Cillian again until last April when he popped up on the TV as a participant in the Britain’s Got Talent show where he wowed the judges, especially Simon Cowell, who, like me, was also mightily impressed with him. That’s the only thing Simon Cowell and I have in common!
Cillian, who is now 14, came third overall in Britain’s Got Talent and this week he is in the USA with his family to take part in the America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League on NBC with, once again, Simon Cowell as his mentor.
Cillian is one of 60 acts selected for the finals and, no matter how well he does, this really is the big league for the once shy little boy with autism from Mornington.
He’s certainly come a long way from his days performing for tips outside his home – the prizemoney for the winner of this show is $250,000!
Cillian has been doing magic tricks since he was just eight years old and if he can pull the rabbit out of the hat this time around it will certainly be a life-changer.
He first became interested in magic at a family gathering in England where someone showed him the severed thumb trick that is still part of his repertoire. At first he was scared by it, then wanted to know how it was done and he hasn’t stopped since.
The show is being screened on NBC next Monday but you can find it on YouTube after it is aired. Good luck Cillian, fingers crossed! From shy little boy with Autism to teenager performing for millions across the USA and across the world – that’s magic!
