Where Is Niall Horan From?

Niall Horan and Blake Shelton's relationship on The Voice Season 23 is so close that Horan said, "He's like a new dad to me— no offense to my dad." This comment (and the pair's subsequent matching outfits) made people wonder about Horan's original, pre-Voice family and upbringing. 

Here, we'll take a walk down memory lane and revisit Horan's hometown, family roots, and his path to stardom. 

Niall Horan's Hometown

In the Blind Auditions, Horan talked about how he was raised on "traditional Irish music," which led him to the country music genre in the United States.

It's obvious from his accent that he hails from Ireland, but where is Horan's hometown?

Horan was born and raised in the town Mullingar, in County Westmeath, Ireland—about an hour west of Dublin. Horan went to both elementary and secondary school in Mullingar and performed in school plays, in the choir, and at the Mullingar Arts Centre. In 2022, Horan paid tribute to his hometown through a documentary Homecoming: The Road to Mullingar, created with Lewis Capaldi, that put both musicians on a road trip across Ireland culminating in a performance in Mullingar. 

What nationality is Niall Horan?

Niall Horan is Irish, a heritage he shares with President Joe Biden. Horan was invited to perform at the White House in March 2023 in celebration of St. Patrick's Day, and posted a video with a cameo from the President himself. "It’s an honour to be invited and represent my country," Horan said in response to the invitation.

Niall Horan, Simon Cowell's The X Factor, and One Direction

According to Horan's official bio for Season 23, Horan credits an Eagles concert he saw at age four with kickstarting his musical career. He taught himself to write and play songs on his guitar as a child. 

Horan auditioned for the competition show The X Factor in the U.K. in 2010, when he was just 16. The judges—including America's Got Talent producer and Judge Simon Cowell—ultimately grouped him with fellow solo vocalists Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Liam Payne to form the band the quintet decided to call One Direction. Horan was the only one of the five not born in England. 

Following their third-place finish on the show, Cowell signed the band, which became an international sensation after releasing their first single "What Makes You Beautiful" in 2011. After years of success and five best-selling studio albums, One Direction went their separate ways in 2015.

Niall Horan's Solo Career 

Horan then pursued a solo music career, leading to the release of his platinum-certified 2017 album Flicker, which featured the hit song "Slow Hands." 

Horan is currently on the path to releasing his third solo studio album, The Show, which will be accompanied by a tour this year. Horan told NBC Insider that the album will be his most mature yet: "I think it's my favorite stuff. And the best stuff that I've made." 

Where Does Niall Horan Live Now?

Horan has lived part-time in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Laurel Canyon for the last seven years, according to his Voice bio. The '60s and '70s music scene, epitomized by Crosby, Stills & Nash, and Jackson Browne, had thrived in that neighborhood, and Horan says he derives musical inspiration from the rich history of his part-time home. 

Catch Niall Horan and his power-packed team of Artists on The Voice on NBC Mondays at 8/7c and Tuesdays at 9/8c and next day on Peacock.