Niall Horan 'still close with Thalia Heffernan'

Niall Horan is reportedly "pretty taken" with an Irish model.

The One Direction star was first linked to Thalia Heffernan after the band played dates in Dublin in May. They pair are said to have met at an after-show party, during which they were giggling and flirting and even said to have enjoyed a smooch.

It's now been claimed Niall is keen to pursue the romance.

"Thalia is a really gorgeous girl inside and out. Niall is pretty taken with her. They are still in touch and get on really well," an insider told British newspaper The Sun.

"Niall's never in one place for long and Thalia travels the world modelling so it will be a case of whenever they can manage it."

It's not the first time the One Direction hunk has been linked to a model, he's also said to have enjoyed flings with Zoe Whelan and Victoria's Secret star Barbara Palvin.

Niall and Barbara were first rumoured to be dating last year, with speculation about their relationship intensifying when they were seen at a gig together in March.

The model previously spoke about the singer, insisting they are just good friends.

"Niall is a nice guy, we just hang out. We're mates," she told OK! Online at the ELLE Style Awards this year.

"I'll always hang out with boys. I'm a tomboy; I played football when I was younger."

Niall has been linked to a string of women over the last year, including Ellie Goulding and Selena Gomez. He was also said to have enjoyed dates with a UK reality TV star called Louise Thompson, prompting him to speak out about how ridiculous much of the speculation about his love life is.

"One meeting turned into a big story, which is ridiculous, so that's the end of that," he said last year.