Niall Horan’s mother Maura has defended the singer after he faced backlash over his new homecoming documentary.
The Irish superstar joined forces with Scottish singer and pal Lewis Capaldi for a documentary about his hometown, titled ‘Niall Horan's Homecoming: The Road To Mullingar’ in collaboration with Guinness.
But Niall and the show has faced some criticism since it went out on Virgin Media One on Sunday night, due to the association with alcohol involved.
Kevin O'Rourke, a reformed drinker, sparked the debate as he took to RTE Radio 1's Liveline on Tuesday saying: "It was sponsored by Guinness, and I just thought to myself that it shouldn't have been, Niall Horan is only 29 and has a young demographic listenership."
Read more: Viewers all saying same thing after Niall Horan and Lewis Capaldi documentary
Niall’s mammy Maura Gallagher rushed to his defence on the radio show on Thursday afternoon, telling host Joe Duffy: “It was 0.0 all the way.”
“It wasn’t the alcoholic Guinness, and he wasn’t drinking and driving or any of that sort of thing,” she went on to clarify, speaking on the RTE Radio 1 show.
“I know we saw him holding the glass, but it was 0.0.
“I can only speak for the part when he was in Mullingar, I was there and 0.0 was given. I couldn’t have it because I was celiac but my husband tasted it and said it was lovely.”
The programme followed the pair on a road trip around the former One Direction star’s favourite spots in Ireland, including his home in Mullingar, Windmill Lane Recording Studios, made famous by U2, and the Guinness Storehouse.
Maura said: “People are entitled to their opinion, but when I heard it[the show] was coming on I couldn’t wait to see Niall and Lewis. Maybe I’m biased. I watched the show the other night and Guinness didn’t come into my head at all...I was just laughing at the two of them.
“And I know they visited Guinness, but the fact that they were sitting there with a couple of pints, I didn’t think too much about it.”
“And to be honest, even my friends said it was a lovely show, they didn’t even mention the Guinness part, it was just to see Niall and Lewis.
She added: “I just want to say I wouldn’t make little of anyone’s opinion on your programme, Kevin had a serious point, and god love anyone that has a drink problem.”
Maura went on to speak to Joe about her pride over her 29-year-old son’s success and how they have coped with the youngster being catapulted to worldwide fame at the tender age of 16.
“It is strange being his mother and watching him on the television and grinning from one ear to the other. And when you think of him as a world star, it is mind blowing really.
“To me, he is just Niall.”
Asked if she ever imagined this being the outcome when he went off to step out on the X Factor stage 12 years ago, she added: “Never in a million years,” and told how she struggled at the time herself.
“It actually took a lot out of me when it happened,” she explained.
“I got so anxious and everything because all of a sudden you had to be doing interviews and meetings in England, because he was underage.
“When you're thrown into that, and I'd be very quiet, I wouldn't have huge confidence for public speaking.
“But they were very well minded and looked after and had fantastic security all the time. You didn’t have to worry about the dangers of the outside world, just you’d feel sorry if he was sick and you couldn’t get near him to give him and hug and a hot drink, you know.”
The proud Irish mammy went on to lift the lid on her youngest son’s love life as she confirmed he is in a relationship.
She said: “He has brought her home to Mullingar, I have [met her] indeed, and she’s a lovely girl.
“She’s from England, and she’s not in the business, that’s a good one. She’s not known, she’s not in the business at all.
“She’s met mammy Maura, and yes very much[impressed].
“She has indeed met nanny Margeret too,” she added laughing.
And despite probing from the host, she kept tight-lipped on her identity, and quipped: “I’m not giving a name at all.”
Irish Mirror reached out to representatives at Guinness and Virgin Media for comment.
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