Saipan star and singer-songwriter Niall McNamee shares love for all things Donegal

Singer-songwriter and actor Niall McNamee is going into 2026 with a string of achievements under his belt. From releasing his debut album, Glass and Mirrors, to starring in the highly-anticipated Saipan film, there have been plenty of highs to reflect on.

Having moved to London at age 17, Niall has spent his time living between the UK and Ireland. His music is influenced by a mix of sounds including Celtic and folk, and he has supported acts including Declan O’Rourke and The Wolfe Tones. Niall has been on a 24-date tour of the UK and Ireland with Glass and Mirrors, and is scheduled to play in The Social, Gaoth Dobhair on February 6, 2026. Although not from Donegal, Niall’s fondness for the county has spilled into his debut.

The song ‘Donegal Hill’ was a last-minute addition to the album. It was inspired by a trip to the county with an old love, which left a profound impression.

“Donegal is where we fell in love properly, we just had the most magical week,” explains Niall. “Weirdly enough, I was staying at my friend’s house, and the mirror in the room had a crack down the middle. So the residing memory of that week of falling in love in Donegal, was this selfie of us in the mirror looking in.

“A couple of years later we split and I was back in Donegal and I was staying in the same place, and I felt really quite fragile. Seeing that crack in the mirror just brought me back to a place that broke my heart.”

The inspiration behind Donegal Hill may be a story of heartbreak, but Niall has had plenty of happier times in Donegal which have strengthened his love for the county.

“I love the pubs over there and I love the people,” says Niall. “The walks, being in the sea, kicking a rugby ball on the beach - Donegal just never lets me down. My best mate got married in Lough Eske and it’s just so beautiful. It feels like a place of fun but also a place of rest.”

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While Donegal Hill was not planned for the album, it has become one of Niall’s favourites.

“It’s quite scary to write a song about a place that you’re not from,” he says. “There’s loads of beautiful songs about Donegal. I would love it if people from Donegal connected with the song. I knew straight away that it was special.

Glass and Mirrors is an album that has been in the works for a number of years. Niall aptly describes it as a “memoir” of his life. 

“Five or six of the songs were only written a year and a half ago, including Donegal Hill,” says Niall. “So it’s changed and it’s gone up and down. Music is tough - it’s expensive, it’s relentless. There’s a special kind of anxiety that comes when you feel like a song isn’t working itself out, but Donegal Hill never had that issue. It was done in one take, which is my favourite way to do things.”

As well as touring, Niall is starring in the upcoming Saipan film, due to be released on St Stephen’s Day. Niall plays former Ireland goalkeeper Alan Kelly Jr in the film about the fallout at the 2002 World Cup between Roy Keane (played by Éanna Hardwicke) and then manager Mick McCarthy (played by Steve Coogan).

“Steve Coogan is a hero of mine so it's an absolute honour and privilege to be able to say I’ve worked with him,” says Niall. “Also Éanna Hardwicke who plays Roy, he’s spellbinding.

“My instinct is that if you’re already team Mick going in, then you’ll leave team Mick and if you’re team Roy going in, then you’ll leave team Roy. I don’t think it will change people’s minds but I do think it will offer fascinating insights into what it could have looked like.

“I think people will be intrigued to watch it and I’ll be as intrigued as anyone else. I’ll be watching it with a fresh pair of eyes. It’s been great to see it go down so well at festivals.”

Balancing music with acting is tough work, but Niall is grateful for the opportunities both industries have given him.

“Music and acting have always been intertwined,” says Niall. “I sang before I could talk. Music has always been in my heart. I’m so grateful that I can do both.

“There’s been moments where it’s been fun and there’s been moments where it’s been really difficult. If you were only a singer or only an actor, those things are quite full on anyways and both are difficult industries, so to have both is crazy. They always seem to work out in the end, but it is hard.”

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Heading into the new year, Niall shares that he has some exciting film projects on the way. Music-wise, Niall’s gig in Gaoth Dobhair will be the final date on his tour, and he’s looking forward to sharing his music with a Donegal audience.

“For the gigs, there’s often a lot of laughs and a lot of tears,” says Niall. “I hope people can listen and cut themselves a bit of slack, because if the album proves anything it’s that life is really tough and complicated. We all have our issues and struggles.”

Saipan will be released in Irish cinemas on December 26.