Co Meath's teenage magician Cillian O'Connor has booked his place in Sunday night's Britain's Got Talent final after winning his semi-final on Friday night with a stunning performance.
The 14-year-old wowed the audience and judges alike and went straight through to the final when the result of the public vote was announced.
"I'm feeling brilliant," he said. "I'm thanking my family over there [in the audience] and the entire audience."
When Cillian was asked by hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly what he wanted to say to the people who had voted for him, he replied: "Thank you very much."
The final on Sunday on Virgin Media One and ITV at 7:30pm will see Cillian competing to win £250,000 and a place on the bill for Britain's Royal Variety Performance.
Before his performance on Friday's live semi-final, the teenager had said: "To win Britain's Got Talent would be incredible. I want to inspire other kids with autism that if they put their minds to it, they can achieve anything. Tonight, I want to bring the audience into my world. I've been practising non-stop, and I hope I do enough to get through to the final."
What followed left the judges and the audience lost for words as Cillian performed a routine that involved things disappearing and reappearing - including himself.
"I used to be on the outside looking in," he said before the big reveal, "but now I'm on the inside looking out."
The crowd erupted as he emerged from a cardboard box on the stage.
"I think that says it all," said judge Amanda Holden as she gave her verdict on the performance. "Your confidence has shot through the roof. That performance was so skillful and so brilliant. I am literally at a loss for words. It was an incredible performance. There was so much to it. I mean, there's like three for the price of one in there!"
Show boss Simon Cowell continued: "There's something about you. I don't know what I like more, whether it's your magic or the reaction on your face afterwards. But it's just the most amazing thing. Really. So happy for you. You're so good at what you do. Really. Amazing."
"Breathtaking," said fellow judge Bruno Tonioli. "We are all spellbound. We could not speak. You are the new grand master of magic!"
"I remember your audition was just stunning," concluded judge Alesha Dixon. "Then I watched you back on TV and I was in floods of tears again because of how much this means to you. You're such a special young man... That was sensational - and I really hope you make the final because you deserve it."
"I don't think we've had a reaction like that all week," said host Declan Donnelly. "Can you sum up how it makes you feel tonight and what that means to you?"
"It felt great," Cillian replied.
"No, it felt a-ma-zing," he added, borrowing a Simon Cowell catchphrase.
On Friday night, dancer Lillianna Clifton was also voted through to the final as the judges' choice.
Aerial and acrobatic act Duo Odyssey, dance group Ghetto Kids, singer Travis George, comic Viggo Venn, singer Olivia Lynes, dancer Musa Motha, singer Amy Lou and singer Malakai qualified for the final earlier in the week. One wildcard act for the final has yet to be announced.
Britan's Got Talent - The Final, Sunday, Virgin Media One and ITV, 7:30pm
