Niall is married with 5 children and lives in Knocknacarra, in the west of Galway City.


His professional background includes 16 years working in IT as a systems and business analyst. He also started two businesses, assisted in starting a third, wrote a newspaper column and worked as an events manager. He was the author of Ireland’s first commercial video game, Hitman, in the early 80’s. In more recent times, he was one of the first Irish politicians to use Facebook.


He has strong roots in the community sector. He was one of the founder members of Galway City Community Forum and the founder of the Galway Environmental Alliance. He is on the boards of Youthwork Ireland, Autism Ireland, and Ábalta school for autistic children, and is a former patron of Guide Dogs for the Blind.


He was elected to Galway City Council in 2004, serving as Mayor of Galway City from 2006 to 2007, and was elected to Seanad Éireann in a bye-election in 2009.


Niall is a keen sports enthusiast, enjoying everything from windsurfing to five a side football. He is an avid supporter of the Arts.