Niall Horan shows Lewis Capaldi best of Mullingar
See ‘Niall Horan’s Homecoming: The Road to Mullingar with Lewis Capaldi’ on Virgin Media One tonight
“I feel like I’ve never left,” Niall Horan said as he sipped on a pint of Guinness in Clarke’s, in Mullingar during the fleadh.
Niall had a famous friend with him when he was there, Lewis Capaldi, and as a film to be shown tonight on Virgin Media One documents, he also took the Scot to sample the chicken fillet rolls from Spar on Dominick Street, and to The Greville Arms Hotel, where there is a shrine to his success in the lobby.
“Every time I come home, I’m blown away by the creativity here,” Niall says in the programme. “Not in a Hollywood way – it’s real, authentic talent, people going out there and doing it for the pure love of the craft.”
We can see it today, Sunday October 16 at 10pm on Virgin Media One, presented by Guinness: ‘Niall Horan’s Homecoming: The Road to Mullingar with Lewis Capaldi’.
It covers the three days the pair spent on a trip around Ireland, and was inspired by Niall’s desire to revisit and reconnect with the things he loves at home, and to experience the reality of Ireland today, with his friend, Lewis.
They meet world class guitar maker George Lowden, Tolu Makay of Tullamore, and Dublin busker, Jacob Koopman.
They went to the Guinness Storehouse, where a beer specialist took them behind the scenes and in the Gravity Bar, they became certified pint pouring experts.
They also explored the Liberties area, and mixed with the after-work crowd and tourists on Grafton Street, where they performed an impromptu set with busker Jacob Koopman.
The duo sang their own songs including ‘Slow Hands’.
Niall explains that he first connected with Lewis on social media after being introduced to his music by his cousin.
Their friendship began when the Mullingar man invited the Scotsman to open for him during his 2018 ‘Flicker’ tour in Lewis’s hometown, Glasgow.
“It was St Patrick’s Day, we had a couple of Guinness,” said Niall. “Seriously, he is the funniest person I know, when you’re with Lewis, you never quite know where a night will go, but you’re guaranteed a good time.”
In a statement, Guinness said that the film tells a story of friendship and talent while celebrating modern Irish culture through the lens of two global superstars who have an authentic connection to Ireland.
Both Niall and Lewis embody the values of camaraderie and friendship, and, as two global icons grounded in their roots, they never sway away from where they started from.
Homecoming is a celebration of what it’s like to live in an Ireland simmering with optimistic energy, possibility, momentum, endless inspiration and… chicken fillet rolls.