My Leaving: Keith Barry:I studied a fair bit for my Leaving (at Mount Sion CBS in Waterford) but I definitely wouldn't have killed myself. I actually had to repeat so I probably did a bit more work the second time around in 1995.

I was a bit of a crammer though. I'd keep on top of things and then do a big cram at the end.

Lots of the lads in my class wouldn't have been aiming for huge points. Most of them went to the RTC down in Waterford (now Waterford Institute of Technology) so they wouldn't have needed that many.

I wanted science in Galway and some of the lads were looking for dentistry and things with higher points.

Chemistry and physics were probably my best subjects. Science helps me in the way I think about the magic now. I actually make my own flash paper - it's just paper that goes up in a flash without leaving any residue so it's handy for tricks.

Irish though, God I was useless. I think I got a D the first time and then I dropped it the second time around. I'd love to have Irish now, just to be able to speak it a bit would be great.

Magic was always my extracurricular activity. It wasn't always extracurricular either. I remember I'd have the magic book on my knees and I'd be reading away with the Irish book or something on the desk in case my mum came in to check.

The exams themselves were okay. I think I was more nervous doing them the first time around. We had the usual exam weather, of course, splitting the rocks.

Actually the way I feel now with this broken leg (after a recent car accident) really reminds me of the way I felt then. I'm stuck inside looking out at this amazing weather. All you want to do is go for a walk or something but you can't.

I did well but not well enough. I got about 360 points and I needed 380 for science in Galway. I was really disappointed and a bit fed up, to be honest.

Repeating was okay though, not as bad as you'd think. I had covered a lot of the curriculum so it wasn't as stressful. I got 440 the second time around so that was enough to go to Galway.

If I knew then what I know now I think the Leaving Cert would have been a lot easier. There are these Harry Lorayne memory courses you can do and they're just fantastic. They just help you to memorise things and help to expand your mind in different ways. I think they'd really help as an aid to study.

Keith Barry has just completed a new series for ITV. He is touring from early next month. See www.keithbarry.com