Niall McCrudden
Encyclopedia
Niall McCrudden was a music manager, promoter, celebrity optician
and socialite
. He was co-founder of Insight, one of Ireland's foremost optician chains. He became known as the "optician to the stars" after selling a pair of sunglasses to Jim Corr
.
which used the word "insight" during an advertising campaign. McNally Opticians acquired Insight later that year. 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. He next turned his eye to Sunglasses.ie, a new website he set up in August 2009.
McCrudden was involved in other businesses. He also managed boybands. In 2005 he attended an international polo
tournament. He was also reported as having attended other social events, such as important birthday parties. 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.
home at the age of 45 on the evening of February 20, 2010. He had one son, who outlived him alongside his parents, twin brother and sister.
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. Boyzone
member Keith Duffy
was one of those who helped carry the coffin. 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. Boyzone had known McCrudden since 1993.
Optician
An optician is a person who is trained to fill prescriptions for eye correction in the field of medicine, also known as a dispensing optician or optician, dispensing...
and socialite
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
. He was co-founder of Insight, one of Ireland's foremost optician chains. He became known as the "optician to the stars" after selling a pair of sunglasses to Jim Corr
Jim Corr
James Steven Ignatius "Jim" Corr is an Irish musician, singer and songwriter. He is a member of the Irish folk/rock band The Corrs, the other members being his three younger sisters Andrea, Sharon and Caroline. He is also a DJ....
.
Career
McCrudden initially worked for McNally Opticians for two years. 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. He was considered the "unofficial optician to Ireland's trendy eyeware-sporting celebrities". They later located to Clane, Inchicore and Rathcoole for a time and tested the eyes of students in universities. In 2006 the company was involved in a dispute with SpecsaversSpecsavers
Specsavers Optical Group Ltd is the biggest optical retailer in the UK and Ireland. It is also the biggest of the four major opticians that control 70% of the British market for spectacles and contact lenses, with Specsavers having a 39% share of the market...
which used the word "insight" during an advertising campaign. McNally Opticians acquired Insight later that year. McCrudden's had an exhibition titled Stars in their Specs and an optical museum on Talbot Street, Dublin which featured on Mooney
Mooney (radio programme)
Mooney is an Irish radio programme broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1. Presented by Derek Mooney, the programme airs Monday to Friday from 15:00 to 16:30....
in May 2007 when reporter Brenda Donohue paid a visit. He next turned his eye to Sunglasses.ie, a new website he set up in August 2009.
McCrudden was involved in other businesses. He also managed boybands. In 2005 he attended an international polo
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
tournament. He was also reported as having attended other social events, such as important birthday parties. In September 2009 he was one of a team of Irish celebrities who spent a week climbing Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a pre-Columbian 15th-century Inca site located above sea level. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is northwest of Cusco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for...
in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
in aid of Autism Action.
Health
He endured depression and had spent time receiving treatment in hospital. He discharged himself and was found dead in his DrumcondraDrumcondra, Dublin
Drumcondra is a residential area and inner suburb on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. It is administered by Dublin City Council.The River Tolka and the Royal Canal flow through the area.-History:...
home at the age of 45 on the evening of February 20, 2010. He had one son, who outlived him alongside his parents, twin brother and sister.
Many of Ireland's celebrities, including models, former Miss World
Miss World
The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951...
Rosanna Davison
Rosanna Davison
Rosanna Diane Davison was the winner of the Miss World 2003 title. She is the daughter of musician Chris de Burgh. The song "For Rosanna" was written by her father in her honour for his 1986 album, Into The Light.-Education:Her primary education was at Aravon School, in Co...
, musicians, Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
winners, television personalities, snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
players and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, attended McCrudden's funeral at the Corpus Christi Church in Griffith Avenue, Dublin on February 24, 2010. Boyzone
Boyzone
Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...
member Keith Duffy
Keith Duffy
Keith Peter Thomas Francis John Duffy is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor, drummer, dancer and television presenter. He began his career as part of Boyzone in the 1990s. In the 2000s, he achieved critical acclaim for his acting roles, particularly in soap operas such as Coronation Street and Fair...
was one of those who helped carry the coffin. Fellow Boyzone member and friend Mikey Graham
Mikey Graham
Michael Graham - also known as Mikey Graham - is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor and music producer, best known as a member of pop group Boyzone, and in 2010 he was a contestant on Dancing on Ice.-Early life:The youngest of seven children, Graham was born to housewife Sheila and carpenter...
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
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
rehearsing for a television show. Boyzone had known McCrudden since 1993.