Nicky grew up going to mass every Sunday with his mother. these days his faith is still strong but with Westlife's hectic schedule means he doesn't get to go to church very often, so he makes sure he says his prayers every night. Nicky's mum has been a huge influence on his life - she always taught him never to look down on anybody, that no one is better than him and that he wasn't any better than anyone else. Its a philosophy that's stuck with him to this day

His dad, Nicholas, has also been a big influence in Nicky's life. He works as a painter and a decorator, and is also a singer in a cabaret band called Nicky and Studz which plays twice a week at different places around Dublin. Nicky is also very close to his sister, Gillian,22, who works for Ryanair at Dublin airport and his brother Adam, 10, who's in primary school

Nicky had a very happy childhood. At the age of five, he was playing mini-league football, coached by his dad who used to be a goalie for a Dublin team. At seven he started playing for Home Farm, the top schoolboy club in Ireland. Despite being incredibly talented at football he was overlooked for the Irish schoolboy team because of his height: he was only 5"4. But his manager intervened on his behalf and at the age of 15, Nicky played his first game for Ireland U15 team against Switzerland in Zurich. They won 4-nil.

During this time, Nicky was also attending St. Nessain's Secondary school. He worked hard at his studies, but always found time to have a laugh in class and his angelic looks meant he usually got away with it. Despite being so busy with football, Nicky was also developing a passion for music. He loved singing, but was far too shy to perform in front of other people. His sister Gillian loved pop music, and though Nicky started listening to bands like A-Ha, Bros and Take That. When he was fourteen, he watched a new Irish band called Boyzone make their debut on the Lat Late Show. He videoed the show for Gillian, and the two of them watched the tape over and over again.

Around this time the big professional clubs started showing an interest in Nicky. He had offers to sign for Newcastle and Everton, but it was Leeds that offered the best deal, even flying his parents to England to see where their son would be working and living in if he signed for the club. After much discussion, Nicky decided he's leave school and go to Leeds. He hadn't yet taken his exams but his parents agreed that he should go. If things didn't work out he could always take his leaving exam later.

Nicky was extremely nervous about moving to Leeds. He knew what a great opportunity it would be, but he hated leaving his family and friends behind. The night before his flight Nicky sat in bed crying his heart out, whilst his dad sat beside him trying to calm him down. But once he was in Leeds, Nicky knew he had made the right decision. He lived in a huge house with nine of the other players and had a great time. Unfortunately, things didn't work out as he'd hoped. Although he was picked for the first team squad during his first season for Leeds, Nicky's confidence took a knocking through one of the football coaches. 'He was a hard man and the whole experience was awful. It wasn't just me effected , other players suffered as well' he remembers.

By the second year, the problems really started for Nicky. The youth team were moved into the new institution set up by former manager Howard Wilkinson at the back of Leeds training ground - a self contained centre where the apprentices would eat, drink, sleep, go to school, play football and socialise. Nicky didn't enjoy the experience at all. 'We were the first group to live at the training ground at Thorp Arch' says Nicky. 'Its right across from Wealstun Prison and the lads used to call it "the other prison"' Then towards the end of his contract, Nicky was told that Leeds wouldn't be keeping him on because he was still too small. Nicky was devastated; he'd slogged his heart out for two years, all for nothing. His former team mates still insist he could have achieved just as much fame as a footballer.' He could have gone all the way' says Jonathon Woodgate 'his shot- stopping is second to none. I think he could have got a premiership job. He has got the attitude to do it as well'

Nicky went for trials at Cambridge and Scarborough, but his heart was no longer in football and he decided to go back to Dublin. 'The goalkeeping coach, John Burridge, told me not to give up' says Nicky now. 'David Seaman was released by Leeds and there are so many people who didn't make it at first but didn't give up hope. I wanted to, but I didn't want to go through what I went through at Leeds again.

Instead Nicky got a job in a clothes shop called Alias Tom, and played football for the league of Ireland, although it was hard knowing that some of his friends at Leeds were now professional football player. 'It was difficult time for me' he says now. 'I cried. I cried a lot. I went home and I hit a brick wall. After three or four months I was ringing old friends and they had all bought new cars and they were all in t5he first team squad. It was really really tough.'

Nicky started to feel a failure, but his mum and dad were there, supporting him and encouraging him whenever he felt down. Determined to move on, he set to work and passed his leaving certificate at Plunket College in Dublin. While he was studying, Nicky bought a karaoke machine and started doing karaoke nights in bars and local parties. The response to his appearances was amazing and he longed to be in a proper band, but he didn't have a clue how to go about it. So, instead, he put his dreams of pop stardom behind him and decided he would join the Gardai and become a policeman. Fortunately for the future of pop music, round about this time one of Nicky's aunts heard about an audition for a boy band - the event which would change Nicky's life beyond his wildest dreams.