The success of One Direction has been nothing short of phenomenal. In just over a year they’ve sold 15 million* records globally. They’ve won awards from MTV, The BRITS, and Teen Choice. They’ve sold out a World Tour. They were the first UK group to go in at No 1 in the US with a debut album. The band will soon hit the big screen, too – acclaimed filmmaker Morgan Spurlock is making a documentary on the boys.
Niall in particular seems to have won the hearts of many a fair maiden. While he might be second* to Harry in terms of Twitter followers, his 1D doll sold the most in 2012 – and he’s the only one to have been kissed by Dustin Hoffman!
The blonde bombshell was born on 13 September 1993 in Mullingar, County Westmeath. He has one older brother, Greg, and the pair lived with their father after his parents split up. Niall went to school at Coláiste Mhuire Mullingar, where he began his singing career in the school choir! He also played guitar.
The Westmeath man started out on the road to success when he was chosen to be the support act for fellow X Factor alumni Lloyd Daniels when he played Dublin. He went on to audition for the talent show himself in 2010 – and the rest, as they say, is history.
So where does Niall hang when at home?
Despite all the adulation Niall never forgets his roots. He admits to being homesick on the trailer for the band’s new movie, and said in a recent Now Magazine article: "I don't get to go home as much as I used to, which is a shame.”
So when he does get back, where does he hang out? A visit last year saw him pop in to Danny Byrne’s pub for lunch, and swing a club at both the Mullingar Golf Club and the Mullingar Park Hotel. He also joined Irish Olympic silver medallist boxer John Joe Nevin at Cusack Park for a performance of the ‘Mullingar Shuffle’!
And for the record
Niall’s not the only Mullingar man who’s warbled their way to the top: Ireland’s answer to Tom Jones was one Joe Dolan. The legend had so many fans there’s a Dolan Gathering Bachelor Festival in August being held in his honour. Ladies once swooned over Joe, much like they do over Niall Horan today.
Find Niall on Twitter @NiallOfficial
*figures correct at time of publishing