On Saturday Dec 3, Irish magician Keith Barry appeared on Irish talk show "Tubridy Tonight".
During his slot he performed a headline prediction effect. Keith had apparently "predicted" the headlines from that day's edition of the Irish Times. All were contained in an envelope Keith had given to the host the Wednesday previous. All was going well until the host opened a billet that read "Gas Explosion". It was clearly not on the front page. Keith replied " Yes, well that's for next week".
On Sunday Dec 11, a gas explosion rocked Brucefield Oil Depot, Hertfordshire in the UK. Fitting controversy pursued but Barry claims he uses a technique he learned from a couple of other magicians, but is not psychic etc.
I personally do not know what to think of this.
Mr Barry is obviously not psychic, as he claims, but the fact he predicted this event is quite interesting, if not a little disturbing. Stroke of luck perhaps, gas explosions are quite common I suppose...
Thoughts please.

Buncefield is/was an oil and petrol depot. ( Not gas )

Lucky coincidence I would suggest.

Piers.

( Shook my house though ! )

I realised that, but this is the event all are connecting his prediction to. Keith has publicly confessed to having three "outs" for every effect he perfoms. Coincidence seems a little too unreliable for a national figure like Barry.
Are you positive it was not a gas explosion which caused the blast?

Even if it was a gas explosion,seeing as predictions are impossible in real world,we then must asume co-incidence.Also Buncefield is in the UK,why would it be front of Irish Times?

The Irish Times covers all major international events aswell as those closer to home. For a kid that grew up watching Barry it still seems fairly un-characteristic of him to take chances like that. The prediction which had not yet "come through" was def part of the act.

For some reason no one has mentioned the fact that keith swapped the headline prediction so obviously,that even my mother figured it out.His new dvd which is in about number 20 in the Irish charts teaches in Keiths words "some of the basic tricks which most magicians learn in the early stages of magic - salt shaker through table, knife swallowing....etc. There are 2 intermediate effects taught - the 4 aces, and coins across - these are for people who already have an understanding of magic but would like to learn a little more"

Zane 13,I did not actually see the full performance so could you clarify that? Maybe you would like to PM me.

It was about 8 tanks of oil that went on fire.Not gas.Everytime I see him I keep
thinking of the words ''Surely magic deserves more respect then this''. His ego is out of control methinks!. Yet another dvd teaching other peoples tricks.

Im guessing the reason keith,got the prediction wrong was to make the performance seem more believable,as in how would he get something wrong if he just swapped it,kinda like Derren does.

Okay this aint really exposure and keith would'nt mind he wants magic secrets to be more available.If you saw it half way through keith picked up one of the pieces of paper-the original newspaper prediction which was in the box,then said we don't need this one yet and threw down a different piece of paper FROM HIS OTHER HAND,he then reached into his pocket and took out a pen or something,dumping the other piece,thats it,he really is that bad.

My highlight of the whole performance was Keith opening an empty wallet to reveal a card which wasnt supposed to be in there for another few minutes,no problem for Keith he just opened the wallet again from the other side and amazingly the card was gone.what a genius.

Now I'm glad I missed it! Brings back bad memories of Jimmy Kimmel Live....urrggghh.