Niamh Gallagher
Age: 26
Race: Human
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 121lb
Eye colour: Hazel
Hair colour: Brown
Department: Sciences
Position: Language Specialist
Rank: Civilian
Family:
Father - Douglas
Mother - Colleen
Brother - Rory, Sean
Sister - None
Appearance:
Usually the first thing people notice about Niamh is her height, followed a close second by her eyes, the latter being far more impressive than the former. Her unruly curls sometimes rate a mention, though since she spends her life trying to tame them, she never minds if they go unnoticed. She has a reasonably olive complexion and can be prone to curviness, though as a general rule she burns far too much energy just by breathing for weight to be a huge concern. Another easily notable trait is her accent; a lilting Irish brogue which can get a little thick if she's had a few.
Personality:
Artistic and vibrant, Niamh is possibly the least stereotypical scientist around, though her chosen field is perhaps a little less "clinical" than the title suggests in any case. Gifted with an uncanny ear for both languages and music, and a very good memory to compliment, the young woman has an easy-going yet bubbly nature and a confidence that almost exceeds her years. Some of her colleagues consider her overly flighty and fanciful, which isn't necessarily a fair description though it has to be said her tendency to be overly imaginative and romantic about the nature of life and the universe doesn't always set her in good stead with those of a decidedly more logical frame of mind. Her grandmother refers to her as a free-spirit and her friends see her as someone who is kind-hearted, liberal-minded and yet easily distracted, whilst her critics bemoan her lack of discipline and tendency to get swept up in things that are really beside the point. For the most part, however, Niamh is a placid, whimsical, passionate girl who approaches everything she does with enthusiasm and far too much to say, usually.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Strengths: Niamh is gifted at what she does and generally does it very well. She rarely complains no matter what task she's given and has an optimistic outlook that some find uplifting. Genuinely compassionate, she makes an excellent friend and can certainly never be accused of being lazy. She is also seemingly unflappable most days, taking anger and criticism in her stride without bearing grudges; kind of like an annoying puppy dog who won't take the hint. She can be witty and charming and almost always pleasant, and thoroughly enjoys performing, though more in a background-entertainment kind of way than anything ostentatious.
Weaknesses: She has a tendency to get distracted too easily and can occasionally misinterpret instructions because she wasn't listening properly when they were issued. (Ironic for someone with such a good ear.) She also has not much experience with StarFleet life and thus tends to "get it wrong" often, which can frustrate her when she genuinely means to do the right thing. Along with her tendency to daydream comes a habit of being tardy and, as a result, a little unreliable though maturity has tempered that somewhat. She also tends to be a little gullible at times.
Hobbies:
Languages, music; especially accoustic guitar and song writing/performing, daydreaming, reading, exploring, making her own clothes, eating new food, dressing up in costume, laughing, dancing and animals.
Ambitions:
At the moment, Niamh just wants to see as much of the universe as she can, since her family rarely travelled when she was a child. She may consider properly enlisting if this attempt at StarFleet life works out for her, and she isn't opposed to the idea of a family, though neither does she feel the pressure of a ticking biological clock. Kind of have to find the right fella first. Well, usually.
History:
Niamh was born in Ireland, Earth, to a farming couple who can trace their local lineage back at least seven generations; something her father is want to tell anyone and everyone, but which Niamh actually finds exceedingly boring. Though not a family dominated by non-migratory dullards, Niamh's more immediate family are definitely more than happy with their little piece of heaven, as they call it, and indeed her grandfather still boasts that he's never set foot outside of Ireland, though Niamh doubts that's actually true.
With these attitudes dictating the terms of her early life, Niamh grew up in a very settled and loving home, had plenty of fields and woodlands to explore, and a staple diet of folklore to keep her imagination churning over until she was old enough to go further afield on her own. She showed an early aptitude for languages and an uncanny ability to mimic both accents and specific voices, which was aptly utilized by her older brothers to cause mischief amongst family and friends. She did well at school, though often failed to live up to her full potential because of her love of daydreaming, and generally bided the time prior to earning her freedom in happy contentment.
When finally old enough to strike out on her own, Niamh stuck primarily to Earth for the first couple of years, working her way around the globe taking whatever job she could get. Accompanied for much of this trek by a young man she considered a kindred spirit, it was once he parted company with her that Niamh decided to settle in one place long enough to complete her higher education. She attended university in Germany and graduated with a degree in linguistics and etymology near top of her class for once. From there, she spent much of the last year or so working as a freelance interpreter and even managed to score some time on Risa, acting as an official translator for a delegation of Klingon dignitaries passing through on their "official rounds".
Evidently, they wind up on Risa every year.
Her decision to join the USS Archimedes as a Language Specialist was spur of the moment but something of a huge step, since it represents a more stable environment with possible career advancements should she take to a life amongst the stars that includes a little structure and discipline. Thus far, her experiences have been positive.
Awards
 Romance Ribbon Mission: Manic Monday |
