One Direction Star Makes Special Hometown Trip to Salute Local Olympic Hero

Courtesy: Niall HoranBoxer John Joe Nevin, a silver medalist at the London Olympics, got a hero's welcome when he returned home to Ireland earlier this week, and one of those cheering for him was One Direction's Niall Horan. 

According to the Irish Independent, after Niall and the rest of the group performed at the Olympics closing ceremony, he canceled all his engagements so he could fly back home to Ireland and welcome Nevin when he returned to his hometown of Mullingar, in County Westmeath. 

Niall isn't just a crazed fan: he's got a personal connection to Nevin.  "I grew up across the road from him. I've known him all my life," he told the Irish Independent.  "I wasn't going to come home at all but I had to be here. I was at three of his fights. It was the only thing I was at. He is such a legend."

Niall didn't sing at the homecoming celebration, but he did introduce Nevin to the crowd.  He told the paper that he'd talked to Nevin every day for the past three weeks, and even tried to sneak into the Olympic village to see him between fights, but was turned away despite his celebrity status. 

Niall later tweeted a picture of himself and some friends celebrating with Nevin.

In other One Direction news, the band just released a video of themselves on the set of the "What Makes You Beautiful" video, covering Oasis' '90s classic "Wonderwall."

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