Niall McCrudden

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 20 February 2010.^[10][11][12] He had one son, who outlived him alongside his parents, twin brother and sister.^[10]

Many of Ireland's celebrities, including models, former