Actor Niall, now 29, fondly remembers the night five years ago when he crossed paths with Imelda, who was 48 at the time. At the age of 24, Niall had just landed a major lead role in London’s West End, playing journalist Neil McCormick in “Killing Bono.” It was during a screening of this film that Niall and Imelda struck up a conversation and eventually started dating.
Contrary to popular belief, their relationship did not blossom during lockdown. They had been dating and getting serious for over a year before the pandemic hit. However, Niall realized that if the lockdown lasted longer than three weeks, he should be with Imelda at her countryside home, since they lived quite far apart, with Niall residing in London.
On St. Patrick’s Day, as England was heading into lockdown, Niall made the decision to be with Imelda. They made a live announcement on Facebook and Instagram to address the speculation surrounding their relationship, as they were in each other’s homes. Little did they know that a year later, they would still be living together and celebrating five years as a couple.
Niall is excited to attend the Galway Film Fleadh for the Irish premiere of his new movie, “Love Without Walls.” He will also be performing a gig in Galway the day after, marking his first time playing there. He hopes to have more tour dates in Ireland once his new album is released later this year.
Niall proudly praises Imelda for her acting debut in the film “Fisherman’s Friends,” where she portrays a singer living among a group of fishermen musicians in Cornwall. He describes her performance as amazing and not surprising, as she possesses a strong emotional connection to her roles. Niall even visited Cornwall for a week to support her during filming.
When asked if Imelda has seen his new film, Niall humorously replies that she has probably seen it more times than he has. He appreciates her unwavering support, especially since this film marked his first leading role. To prepare for the role, Niall had to go through an intense physical transformation, losing a significant amount of weight. It was a challenging experience, made even more difficult by the pandemic and the associated restrictions.
Aside from acting, Niall is an avid soccer fan and plays Sunday League games with Tooting Celtic. He used to play with the Irish embassy team on Saturdays as well. He supports Leeds United and Dundalk FC, and his love for soccer began when he started attending Ireland’s home and away games with his father. Niall even proudly boasts a black eye he received in Bosnia as a testament to his dedication to the sport.
Niall’s first major film role was in “The Foreigner,” alongside Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan. In the movie, he had the opportunity to fight with Jackie Chan, which required three weeks of training in the gym. However, it took nearly two years for the film to be released, during which Niall would often tell people about his experience working with Jackie Chan, only to be met with disbelief.
One of Niall’s most revered stage roles was playing the tragic Fran O’Toole in the Miami Showband Story. Fran O’Toole was a member of the band who was tragically killed during a notorious ambush in 1975. Niall views it as an honor to portray him and believes that if he had not been killed, Fran O’Toole would have achieved great success on a global scale.
The 35th Galway Film Fleadh is set to take place from July 11 to 16. To book tickets, visit www.galwayfilmfleadh.com or contact the Town Hall Theatre at 091 569777.
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