Niall was a relative latecomer to Fortwilliam Musical Society. His sister, Joanne, had tried for many years to press-gang him, but he always found a reason to say no...until late 2000, when he weakened and agreed to take part in Oklahoma! in February 2001.
This unremarkable debut was rapidly followed by appearances in The Merry Widow with St. Agnes' Choral Society, the Northern Ireland premiere of Mack and Mabel with Bangor Operatic Society, and operating the ever-growing plant Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors with Ulster Operatic Company ... all in 2001!
He played Daddy Warbucks in the Youth Group's production of Annie in March 2003, when he increased the average age of the cast members by about a decade.
In October 2003, he once again operated Audrey II when Bangor Operatic Society performed Little Shop of Horrors. Apparently, he was the only one small enough to fit inside, strong enough to lift it, and stupid enough to accept the part.
He achieved a lifelong ambition in January 2004 when he appeared in an off-Broadway show. Okay, so it was Broadway, Belfast not New York, but hey - you gotta start somewhere. He reunited with Drew Reid (The Voice) to operate The Plant once more in Little Shop with St. Mary's University College, Belfast. Will he ever learn?
In February 2004, he was cast against type as the sarcastic, alcoholic American Jeff Douglas in Brigadoon, and in September 2004 he ignored the pain of a cracked rib (sustained during one of the onstage "fights") for the last six performances of Ulster Operatic's highly-acclaimed production of West Side Story.