IRVINE comic Billy Kirkwood has said “goodbye old friend” to the Magnum, as the “legendary” venue closed for good last week.
The comedian, wrestling commentator and West FM host - whose mother previously worked as a cleaner at the venue - said he was honoured to play his Last Magnum Standing performance back in September, prior to the closure.
Writing on Facebook, Billy said: “So the Magnum Leisure Centre closes and takes with her the legendary Magnum theatre. A venue that I had the honour to be last performer to play and holds a dear place in my heart as not only being the home town gig, but the very venue my mum worked as cleaner in before and after I was born.
“Myself, my friends and brothers had many fun times visiting the centre as I'm sure many ayrshire-oanians did.
“Maybe it was just bricks and mortar and has been 'getting closed down' for 15 years or so. But it was a fun place for a kid growing up in Irvine to visit. Goodbye old friend.”
After 40 years in operation The Magnum Leisure Centre closed its doors for good last week, to the sadness of many Irvine and Ayrshire residents with fond memories of the centre – once the largest in Europe.
Taking its place will be North Ayrshire Council’s £20 million centre dubbed The Portal, due to open on January 27.
Billy previously told the Times that it was great to give the venue a proper sending off.
“It’s really exciting to get to go and perform there”, he said. “But it’s sad as well. It’s a gorgeous theatre and a real institution.
“I’ve always had a connection to it; my mum used to be one of the cleaners there.
“It’s a dream gig and a huge honour for me to be the last act to ever perform there.
“There have been lots of names that have played there over the years. I remember seeing Ardal O’Hanlon there in 1997. It was right off the back of Father Ted and the place was rammed.
“It’s a real sort of Cinderella story for a local boy to come back here and play this gig”.
Having established himself as one of the main figures on the Scottish comedy circuit, Billy has performed across the country, featured on BBC Radio Scotland’s satirical news programme Breaking the News and commentated for Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW).
Despite his success in recent years, Billy has not forgotten his origins in Ayrshire and owes much of it to the place where he grew up.
“The people of Irvine and Ayrshire have been instrumental in the success I’ve had”, he said, “It’s great if I am able to pay them back in some way for all the support I’ve had from them.”