The boys’ journey saw them meet world class guitar maker George Lowden, up and coming Irish artist and Tullamore native Tolu Makay, as well as local Dublin busker, Jacob Koopman. And like many an Irish host, Niall takes his Scottish visitor to the home of the black stuff, the Guinness Storehouse.

Despite leaving home and achieving international superstardom at a young age, Niall’s connection to his homeland home has never been dimmed. “I feel like I’ve never left,” says Horan happily as he sips on a pint of Guinness in Clarke’s, a pub in Mullingar that he has fond memories of. “Every time I come home, I’m just blown away by the creativity here. Not in a Hollywood way, its real authentic talent, people going out there and doing it for the pure love of the craft.”