- Niall McCrudden
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Niall McCrudden Died 20 February 2010 Body discovered Drumcondra home Residence Drumcondra, Dublin, Ireland Occupation Optician Known for Optician to Ireland's celebrities Children One son Parents Two (living) Niall McCrudden was a music manager, promoter, celebrity optician and socialite. He was co-founder of Insight, one of Ireland's foremost optician chains.[1] He became known as the "optician to the stars" after selling a pair of sunglasses to Jim Corr.[2]
Career
McCrudden initially worked for McNally Opticians for two years.[3] Insight was founded by McCrudden and partner Graham Smithers in 1992, with its first practice located on top of a doctor on the Swords Road.[3] He was considered the "unofficial optician to Ireland's trendy eyeware-sporting celebrities".[1] They later located to Clane, Inchicore and Rathcoole for a time and tested the eyes of students in universities.[3] In 2006 the company was involved in a dispute with Specsavers which used the word "insight" during an advertising campaign.[1] McNally Opticians acquired Insight later that year.[3] McCrudden's had an exhibition titled Stars in their Specs and an optical museum on Talbot Street, Dublin which featured on Mooney in May 2007 when reporter Brenda Donohue paid a visit.[4] He next turned his eye to Sunglasses.ie, a new website he set up in August 2009.[5]
McCrudden was involved in other businesses.[3] He also managed boybands.[3] In 2005 he attended an international polo tournament.[6] He was also reported as having attended other social events, such as important birthday parties.[7] In September 2009 he was one of a team of Irish celebrities who spent a week climbing Machu Picchu in Peru in aid of Autism Action.[8][9]
Health
He endured depression and had spent time receiving treatment in hospital.[2] He discharged himself and was found dead in his Drumcondra home at the age of 45 on the evening of February 20, 2010.[2][10][11] He had one son, who outlived him alongside his parents, twin brother and sister.[2]
Many of Ireland's celebrities, including models, former Miss World Rosanna Davison, musicians, Eurovision Song Contest winners, television personalities, snooker players and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, attended McCrudden's funeral at the Corpus Christi Church in Griffith Avenue, Dublin on February 24, 2010.[10] Boyzone member Keith Duffy was one of those who helped carry the coffin.[10] Fellow Boyzone member and friend Mikey Graham tweeted his disappointment at the news — "Very sad today. Lost a very close pal on Saturday and just found out before I went on ice. So damn tough, another friend gone. RIP pal." — he was unable to attend the funeral as he was in London rehearsing for a television show.[11] Boyzone had known McCrudden since 1993.[12]
References
- ^ a b c Mark Paul and Ciaran Hancock (March 12, 2006). "Opticians opt to settle ad dispute". The Sunday Times. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/article740010.ece. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
- ^ a b c d Michael O'Doherty (February 22, 2010). "Michael O'Doherty: My unbearable sadness at the loss of VIP's most photographed man". Evening Herald. http://www.herald.ie/opinion/michael-odoherty-my-unbearable-sadness-at-the-loss-of-vips-most-photographed-man-2073845.html. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f Ciaran Hancock (August 6, 2006). "McNally has real Insight". The Sunday Times. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/article601040.ece. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
- ^ "Tuesday, May 29th 2007". Mooney (RTÉ). May 29, 2007. http://www.rte.ie/radio/mooneygoeswild/fp2007/may29.html. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
- ^ Robin Kiely (August 19, 2009). "Eyewear world taken by storm with website". Fingal Independent. http://www.fingal-independent.ie/news/eyewear-world-taken-by-storm-with-website-1862836.html. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
- ^ "60 is the new 40 and Suzanne looks fab!". Irish Independent. August 27, 2005. http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/features/60-is-the-new-40-and-suzanne-looks-fab-246950.html. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
- ^ Barry Egan (November 23, 2008). "Sunshine more fun than TV spotlight". Irish Independent. http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/sunshine-more-fun-than-tv-spotlight-1550194.html. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
- ^ "Model afraid she'll 'do a Cheryl' on Duffy". RTÉ Entertainment (RTÉ). September 29, 2009. http://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/0929/mastersonj.html. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
- ^ "Jenny-Lee afraid that she'll 'do a Cheryl' on charity trek". Evening Herald. September 24, 2009. http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/jennylee-afraid-that-shell-do-a-cheryl-on-charity-trek-1895239.html. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
- ^ a b c Ken Sweeney (February 25, 2010). "Tributes to optician who 'smiled as he ached'". Irish Independent. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/tributes-to-optician-who-smiled-as-he-ached-2078630.html. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
- ^ a b Melanie Finn, Showbusiness Editor (February 26, 2010). "Ice show forces sad Mikey to miss Niall's farewell". Evening Herald. http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/ice-show-forces-sad-mikey-to-miss-nialls-farewell-2081159.html. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
- ^ Alex Fletcher (February 23, 2010). "'DOI' Mikey Graham mourns close friend". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/dancingonice/news/a204755/doi-mikey-graham-mourns-close-friend.html. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
Categories:- 2010 deaths
- Irish socialites
- Music promoters
- Opticians
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