‘We're not a one-trick pony like some places' – how Wexford town has defied rural decline as it gears up for the Fleadh
The old adage 'you get out what you put in' springs to mind on a walk down the buzzing main street in Wexford town.
On the Friday afternoon of the August bank holiday, pubs are busy, outdoor seating areas of cafes are full, and shop owners are finishing off their window displays ahead of the biggest celebration of traditional Irish music in the world.
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The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Ed Sheeran shocks fans with surprise Fleadh Cheoil appearance in Co Wexford as star belts out hits for punters
ED Sheeran made a surprise appearance at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Wexford today. The star belted out hits including Shape of You in The Sky and The Ground pub, which was packed with punters. 4 Ed performed a number of trad tunes Credit: Mark Surrdige 4 The star was joined by members of Irish bands Biird and Amble Credit: Mark Surrdige 4 Ed played a surprise set at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Wexford Credit: Instagram/Theskyandtheground Ed, 34, who was joined by members of Irish bands Biird and Amble, also performed a number of trad tunes. Ed's late gran Nancy Mulligan hailed from Gorey, Co Wexford. And the singer used to visit Wexford multiple times a year to spend time with family and friends as a child. Ed told The Louis Theroux Podcast: "We'd spend all of our holidays in Ireland. My first musical experiences were in Ireland. I grew up with trad music in the house.' Caolán Barron, from the Barron family run pub, said: "We're delighted to welcome Wexford-man Ed Sheeran to The Sky & The Ground during The Fleadh Cheoil 2025. "We've the spare room made up for him, and my mother has made him a chicken curry in case he needs feeding and all thanks to our closer partner Guinness for making it possible.' Ed's latest album, 'Play' is set to be released on September 12. It explores new musical ground through collaboration with producers and musicians from around the world. And it is also inspired by Ed's exposure to Indian and Persian musical cultures and his connections to the Irish folk tradition. Speaking about the forthcoming album, Ed said: 'Play was an album that was made as a direct response to the darkest period of my life. Ginger-haired pop megastar Ed Sheeran 'caused earthquake' after thousands of fans jumped to hit songs at packed concert "Coming out of all of that I just wanted to create joy and technicolour, and explore cultures in the countries I was touring. "I made this record all over the world, finished it in Goa, India, and had some of the most fun, explorative creative days of my life. "It's a real rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish, it encapsulates everything that I love about music, and the fun in it, but also where I am in life as a human, a partner, a father." He continued: "Going into this album campaign I said to myself 'I just want everything I do to be fun and playful' - so that's why we are building pubs for folk jams, doing gigs on open top buses and singing in pink cowboy hats on bars. 'SAVOUR THE MOMENTS' "The older I get the more I just want to enjoy things, and savour the moments that are mad and chaotic. "You can preorder 'Play' now, many many more playful things to come before it's out x.'
The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
Ed Sheeran packs out Wexford town with a surprise gig at Fleadh Cheoil
ED SHEERAN MADE a surprise appearance at an Fleadh Cheoil in Wexford town this afternoon at the well-known Sky & The Ground pub. Massive crowds gathered on the streets of the south-east town today, hoping to catch a glimpse of the English singer, who frequently cites his Irish roots. He was joined by members of the Irish bands Biird and Amble and performed a number of his original songs as well as traditional Irish trad tunes. Ed Sheeran just rocked up to Wexford for a surprise gig 🎤👀 Ed showed up at Sky & The Ground and belted out a few tunes in front of a jam-packed pub 🍻🎶 Rumours had been flying all day - and for once, they were true! 😳 @warnermusicirl — Today FM 💛 (@TodayFM) August 5, 2025 Advertisement The Sky & the Ground quickly filled up this morning as the rumour mill ran wild in Wexford, leading to a full house at the pub this afternoon. Not wanting to leave anyone out, Sheeran made his way outside to perform an acoustic set for fans who could not make their way into the pub. Fair play…not wanting those outside The Sky & The Ground in #Wexford to feel cheated, Ed Sheeran went outside and did an acoustic/unplugged tune for the crowd gathered there. That's a big one for the Fleadh anyways…and it's only Tuesday! 😅 — Pádraig Byrne (@byrne_padraig) August 5, 2025 Caolán Barron, a member of the family who runs the pub, said they were delighted to welcome Sheeran today. He added that his mother had made up the spare room for him to stay and cook him a dinner – chicken curry – just in case he needed a feed. Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the annual traditional music and culture festival, continues until Sunday in Wexford town. Dozens of acts and events – ticketed and free – are still to follow throughout the rest of the week. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Ed Sheeran surprises fans in Wexford by playing secret gig at Fleadh Cheoil
Ed Sheeran has surprised fans in Co Wexford by playing a secret gig on day three of this year's Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. The Galway Girl singer shocked fans on Tuesday by arriving at the acclaimed traditional pub, The Sky & The Ground, in Wexford town. Ed, 34, delighted fans by taking time off his sold-out European Mathematics tour for an unexpected appearance at the pub. Videos on social media show the singer, who was brought up in Suffolk, serenading crowds with some of his biggest hits — including Castle on the Hill and Azizam. He was later joined by other acclaimed Irish musicians Beoga, Biird, Amble, and Aaron Rowe for a rendition of Raglan Road. Commenting on the surprise gig, Caolán Barron, from the Barron family-run pub, said: 'We're delighted to welcome Wexford man Ed Sheeran to The Sky & The Ground during the Fleadh Cheoil 2025." We've the spare room made up for him, and my mother has made him a chicken curry in case he needs feeding Ed has a large Irish family, and Wexford holds a special place in the four-time Grammy-winning singer's heart. Back in June, he admitted that he culturally identifies as Irish, despite being born and raised in England. Speaking on The Louis Theroux Podcast, he revealed that he spend his holidays in Ireland as a child. 'I class my culture as Irish. I think that's what I grew up with," he said. 'We'd spend all of our holidays in Ireland. My first musical experiences were in Ireland, I grew up with trad music in the house. "So I identify culturally as Irish, but I was obviously born and raised in Britain. I feel like just because I was born in Britain doesn't necessarily mean that I have to just be [British]. 'I don't think there's any rules to it. It should be how you feel and how you were raised and what you lean into.' 'Second home' Asked if he gets 'a lot of love' in Ireland, he said: 'I'd say it's basically my second home musically. I'd say Ireland is the place that I am most successful musically.' President Michael D Higgins officially opened the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann with a ceremony on the Gig Rig stage on Sunday afternoon. The festival will run for a week, and some 500,000 visitors are expected to attend. The sunny South-East is playing host to the festival for the second year in a row, and more than 5,000 competitors, including singers, musicians and dancers are also set to perform. Ed's third studio album ÷ (Divide) , which was released in 2017, features strong Irish influences and includes the songs Galway Girl and Nancy Mulligan. Oscar-nominated actress Soairse Ronan appears in the music video for Galway Girl, while Nancy Mulligan tells the story of how the singer's grandparents met.
