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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Michelle Townsend & Michelle Cullen

Inside mentalist Keith Barry's home life - from wife, children and labour hypnosis

Keith Barry has made a name for himself as one of Ireland's most renowned hypnotists and illusionists.

But alongside his magical career, he is also a loving husband and father of two.

When he's not touring the world reading people's minds, the Waterford native can be found at home with his wife Mairead, who he married in 2006, and their two children, Breanna and Braden.

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Here is all you need to know about Keith's life at home when he's not busy on the road.

Keith Barry (Collins Photo Agency)

Keith's marriage to wife Mairead

Keith and Mairead have been married for 16 years and met when the two were only teenagers.

The illusionist was friends with his now wife's brother, who he asked one night to "shift his sister" while they were out in a nightclub.

After the faithful question, the two became inseparable.

The two married in 2006, surrounded by friends and family.

Children

Keith and Mairead share two children together, Breanna, aged 12 and Braden, aged 9.

The magician even previously admitted to RSVP Live that he had used his talents to hypnotise his wife while she was giving birth to their son.

Keith and Mairead Barry with kids Breanna and Braden at the official opening of the Gaiety Theatre Christmas Panto, Aladdin (Sasko Lazarov/Photocall)

He said: "I used hypnosis on her as a pain management tool for the birth, so she didn't use any epidural, she just used hypnosis. She's a huge advocate for it now."

Life at home

Keith has often appeared on television to take part in death-defying stunts.

But the mentalist said he often doesn't share plans for his acts with his family as he doesn't like to worry them.

He told RSVP Live: "For the most part, I don't really tell them what I'm doing. I come home and tell them what I've done."

Keith's career has seen him tour all over the world, and the amount of travel associated with his job can be difficult as it means he can spend long periods away from home.

Magician Keith Barry and his wife Mairead Foley (Barbara Lindberg.)

Explaining how he strikes a good balance between home and work life, he said: "I made a rule a couple of years ago that I wouldn't travel for more than five weeks without seeing my family. And lucky in that period, I've never had to travel for more than that. Obviously, the days that we're in, Facebook and Skype make it a whole lot easier now," he tells us.

"It's always difficult, it's always hard, but the kids have been brought up knowing I travel. I do get asked quite a lot, 'why do you have to travel so much' but that's what I do. Otherwise, I'd have to give it up, which isn't gonna happen either.

"I miss them, they miss me, but it's part and parcel of the job, and you just have to learn to live with it."

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