The mother of Britain’s Got Talent superstar Cillian O’Connor has said the family are still "in shock" that her son made it to the final.
The 14-year-old, from Mornington in Co Meath, won third place in the final of the UK show after impressing judges and the audience with his magic tricks.
Speaking to The Irish Mirror the day after winning third place on the hit UK show, Cillian said: "Yeah, luckily, I got sleep last night and I am doing well today.
"I felt happy (when I woke up) because I had just come third in Britain’s Got Talent."
READ MORE: Britain's Got Talent fans react to final verdict as Irish teen Cillian O'Connor places third
His mother Elaine said: "We’re still in shock that he made it the final. We actually didn’t even get a chance to get over the fact that he made the finals. It was all panic trying to get something together for the final. You never imagine he would even make it to the final. It is surreal.
"It has always been Cillian’s dream to be on Britain’s Got Talent so he’s been submitting videos to apply since he was about eight or nine so that is how long it has been his dream.
"So once he got the audition, we thought ‘oh my god’ he’s going to get his dream. We didn’t really care what happened, we thought that 'this your dream and we will do what we can to get you there but after that it is up to you'."
Elaine admitted she was worried how Cillian - who was diagnosed with autism and dyspraxia - would react to being on stage, saying: "He has sensory autism. Even when we go to the theatre, we have to make sure he is near the edge to make sure we can get him out if there is loud noises or anything."
She said Britain’s Got Talent has been "magic for Cillian, saying his confidence has grown since his first audition.
"We think it is down to the interviews and talking to people. We feel that he’s not just communicating with people through his magic, which would’ve been the normal process but now he’s actually communicating with people more naturally.
"In a way, Britain’s Got Talent has been the magic for Cillian."
She praised staff and TV crew for always looking after Cillian throughout his auditions.
"They organised a room for us. Cillian’s level of energy gets higher and higher and then he drops so because the shows were on live late, Cillian would’ve been on high energy during rehearsals, he needed to have a sleep.
"When he came out of the audition in Manchester, he was there from 9-7pm. He was that tired, he couldn’t walk back to the hotel, so we were afraid that if he didn’t get his sleep before the live shows, we thought he might not have been able to walk onto stage.
"They organised a room with a sofa and a 'do not disturb' sign. We were able to get him asleep for about an hour and a half before the semi-final and then again before the final. The minute he went into that room with that sofa, he died. He was out cold."
Cillian said he remained calm by focusing on his family and friends in the audience.
"During the audition and the semi-final, I was very emotional. I was very nervous… but for the final I wasn’t emotional because I walked in happy with whatever place I got.
"For the semi-finals and final my family and friends were in the audience so I was looking for them in the audience and I would wave at them and cheer."
Elaine said she hopes Cillian has "inspired other kids" to go on the show.
"The main focus was to get Cillian his dream and he has got it. We’re so glad people got to see the Cillian that we love. He comes alive. It’s unbelievable."
It has since been revealed popular Cillian earned 11.8 percent of the British public votes on the show.
Runner-up Lilliana Clifton, 13, received 13.1 per cent and winner Norwegian comedian Viggo Venn won the show with 22.5 percent of votes.
During Cillian’s routine in the final of the competition, Cillian made co-host Ant McPartlin disappear.
After the performance, the judges gave the youngster a standing ovation with co-host Declan Donnelly remarking: "I need to know how to do that."
Judge Simon Cowell said: "I just think you’ve obviously got magical powers and I believe in that", while fellow judge Bruno Tonioli described the Meath teenager as "the embodiment of magic".
Meanwhile, Lilliana Clifton, who claimed second place with an emotional and dramatic dance routine to Eurovision winner Loreen’s Tattoo.
However, it was Norwegian comedian Viggo Venn, who "captured the heart of the [British] nation" with his high-vis inspired routines, who was crowned the winner.
Venn, who said at his first audition that he wanted to become a British comedian, scooped the £250,000 (€289,600) prize, as well as a spot on the bill at the Royal Variety Performance, which is attended by members of Britain’s royal family.
During the final of the show on Sunday night, a surprise came when former contestant Susan Boyle appeared for a performance of her 2009 audition song I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables, with the cast of the West End production.
The 62-year-old also joined the cast in performing a rendition of Do You Hear The People Sing?
After the performance, Boyle said: "It feels great [to be here]. It’s extra special for me. Last April I suffered a minor stroke and I fought to be back on stage and I have done it."
Cowell said: "Susan, we owe you so much. I knew you weren’t well but if anyone was going to come back, you were going to come back, it wouldn’t be the same without you."
READ NEXT:
- Kinahan gang 'priority fugitive' Liam Byrne arrested by Spanish cops as he made secret trip to meet family in Mallorca
- Roy Keane beats David Beckham in sexiest retired footballers rankings as Italian tops list
- Holly Willoughby makes digs at Phillip Schofield after severing friendship over affair
- Politician calls for free public transport for gardai and soldiers - to tackle anti-social behaviour
- Spain weather: Urgent warning for Irish holidaymakers as 'extensive' storm forecast to wreak havoc
Get news updates direct to your inbox by signing up to our daily newsletter here
