He attended Scoil Lorcáin, Monkstown and Coláiste Eoin, which is a Gaelscoil on Dublin's southside, although he credits his father as being the main influence for his love of the Irish language,[4][5] of which he is a fluent speaker. He won an under-18 all-Ireland award for his skills on the bodhrán.[6] Ó Maonlai first formed a band called The Complex with childhood friend Kevin Shields and drummer Colm Ó Cíosóig.[7] After Liam left to form the Hothouse Flowers in 1984, Shields and Ó Cíosóig were joined by vocalist Dave Conway and keyboardist Tina (who used no surname), and renamed themselves My Bloody Valentine, taking their name from a low-budget horror film.[8]
Ó Maonlaí is also an active member of the Nuclear Free Future movement and contributed to the hosting of events in Carnsore and in Wexford Town in 2001. In 2004 he was a guest at the Barefoot College, located at Rajasthan, India. In 2005 he released a solo album entitled Rían which is a collection of tunes and songs in Irish.[9][10] He performed in the 2009 Dublin to Gazabenefit concert.[11]
