Ed Sheeran has as much right to call himself Irish as The Pogues or The Smiths
Ed Sheeran
rarely says or does anything controversial – but the internet has required an urgent dose of smelling salts after the
singer said that he identified as 'culturally Irish'
. Sheeran made the remarks in an interview with Louis Theroux, saying,
'
My dad's family is ... he's got seven brothers and sisters. We'd spend all of our holidays in Ireland'. He said : '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.'
His comments have generated considerable commentary on both sides of the Irish Sea – though why this should be so is a mystery. With early songs such as The A-Team and later hits like Castle on the Hill, Sheeran was following unashamedly in a bare-boned, dewy-eyed tradition of confessional acoustic songwriting – which, if not invented in Ireland, is certainly part of the country's bloodstream culturally speaking.
That isn't to suggest early 2000s artists such as Paddy Casey, David Kitt or
Damien Rice
should be given credit/blame for Sheeran – but it is surely telling that he was coming of age musically while they were at the zenith of their powers. The influence of Rice, in particular, is something Sheeran has talked about on many occasions – recalling how seeing the Kildare singer perform in Whelan's when Sheeran was aged 14 had a formative influence.
As he told Hot Press in 2022, 'I was brought up on Van Morrison's Irish Heartbeat album. Then there was Planxty, Christy Moore, Dónal Lunny, and my cousin got me into Bell X1, The Frames, Damien Rice, Mundy and Damien Dempsey. I'm really inspired by Irish music.'
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The shock is that this should be considered surprising. What could be more Irish than a singer with a guitar emoting from the bottom of their boots? Tellingly, Sheeran's biggest hit, Shape of You, was co-written with another Irish musician, Snow Patrol's Derry-born guitarist Johnny McDaid.
When it comes to his Irish identity, the obvious black mark against Sheeran is Galway Girl – not so much a song as a harbinger of the music apocalypse, with fiddles that sound like a caterwaul from Celtic purgatory. But while it is deeply cliched, is it really so different from anything put out by The Pogues or Dropkick Murphy's, 'Irish' bands whose music feels like the equivalent of a trolley dash through a Carrolls Gift Shop?
Fair enough, Sheeran is a long way from The Smiths, perhaps the most 'Irish' British band of all time, their music suffused in mordant wit, sexual repression and poetic fatalism – aka the holy trinity of Irish cultural hallmarks. But as a heartfelt singer-songwriter, he is absolutely entitled to feel Irish. As he himself has stated, he is following in the footsteps of Damien Rice and Mundy. The difference is that he has spun from these raw materials chart-topping gold. Good on him – and at least he isn't as annoying as Bono.
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Irish Times
16 hours ago
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Notions restaurant review: This is intelligent, considered food, without ceremony
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The wine is natural – of course it is – organic or biodynamic, probably foot-stomped in a 200-year-old stone trough for Percheron horses. Everything's by the glass, arranged not by grape or region but by natty wine taxonomy – Go-To, Elegant & Playful, Lil' Funky, Mad Funky – a spectrum from 'you'll like this' to 'you might not, but at least it's interesting'. [ Summer 2025: 100 great places to eat around Ireland Opens in new window ] The staff are charming and quick with tasters. A few natty heads linger outside, but most – including two high-profile influencers – are just here for a good glass and a bite. We steer clear of the funkier stuff and go for a bottle of Château Coupe Roses (€48) – crunchy red fruit, bursts of bramble, a vin vivant – which throws off a reassuring amount of debris. READ MORE We start with sourdough (€6), baked that morning in Bold Boy, the in-house bakery. It's topped with whipped cod's roe and chives chopped with the kind of precision that would earn full marks from @ratemychives on Instagram. A Connemara oyster (€4) with jalapeño granita leaves my mouth tingling, the oyster's brine a prominent note against the heat of the granita. Notions, Francis Street, Dublin 8. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times And then on to the snacks, at €9 each. Radishes are piled on top of romesco sauce and dusted with hazelnuts. The romesco delivers a rich, peppery depth, lifted with a splash of wild garlic oil. Ham hock croquettes are made with a light hand – hot, loose, and smoky with Gubbeen, with an assertive mustard mayo. If you're a little croquetas-jaded, these will restore your faith. And the tempura of purple sprouting broccoli, dappled in filaments of a light crunchy batter, is glossed with gochujang mayo and dusted with nori powder. The small plates section is where the chef starts speaking in ingredient haiku: oyster mushroom, shimeji, black garlic, tarragon (€12). It is a great dish. The oyster mushroom and shimeji have an earthy, roasted edge, the black garlic smoulders, and the tarragon adds a bit of punch. Notions: From left, radish, romesco, chive oil and hazelnuts; asparagus, guanciale, gnocchi, Parmesan and cavolo nero; Connemara oyster with jalapeño granita; caramelised white chocolate, strawberries and buckwheat sponge. Photograph: Alan Betson Ham hock croquettes, mustard aioli with smoked Gubbeen. Photograph: Alan Betson Sommelier Finn Lowney and chef Andrew Kelly. Photograph: Alan Betson Crispy purple potato, greens, anchovy dressing (€14) turns out to be the dish of the evening. The Ballymakenny potatoes are smashed, cooked in their skins, and just this side of charred. The greens are a mix of rocket, kale and roasted spring onions, and the anchovy dressing is sharp, with a smoky finish pulling the whole thing together. On to the large plates and asparagus, guanciale, gnocchi, Parmesan, kale (€18) is smaller than expected – but the price reflects it. Pan-fried spears of asparagus are nestled alongside gnocchi and crispy cavolo nero in a Parmesan cream, with crispy guanciale adding a punch of salty umami. Iberico pork cheek, nduja, butter bean cassoulet, salsa verde (€26) is a satisfying dish. The meat is tender without falling into 'melts in the mouth' territory; the cassoulet is loose, thick, and rich with nduja heat; and the salsa verde is snappy, vivid with acidity, bringing a welcome counterpoint. For dessert, there's just one option – caramelised white chocolate, raspberries, and buckwheat sponge (€10), an unfussy end. The raspberries are sharp, the sponge is light and nutty, and the white chocolate comes in just enough to soften the edges. 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Wheelchair access: Accessible room with no accessible toilet. Music: Soul, jazz and reggae.
Irish Times
17 hours ago
- Irish Times
Notions review: No style over substance here. This is intelligent, considered food, without the ceremony
Notions Address : 74 Francis St, The Liberties, Dublin 8, D08 KA43. Telephone : N/A Cuisine : Modern International Website : Cost : €€€ It's called Notions – which tells you everything and nothing. Once an insidious put-down designed to keep you in your place, it's now tossed around half-laughing by the same people who used to mean it. Oh, notions! – as if ambition were something to be embarrassed about. It's an interesting name for a restaurant – either dry wit with a flick of the fringe, or a quiet middle finger with polite defiance. Possibly both. Notions is what happens after Two Pups cafe on Francis Street, Dublin 8 , closes for the day and flips from flat whites to fermented funk. It's the evening shift – a hybrid wine bar and restaurant with no minimum spend. You can drop in for a glass and a couple of snacks, or do as we do: rifle through most of the menu, which runs on a spine of nibbles, snacks, and plates (small and large). The wine is natural – of course it is – organic or biodynamic, probably foot-stomped in a 200-year-old stone trough for Percheron horses. Everything's by the glass, arranged not by grape or region but by natty wine taxonomy – Go-To, Elegant & Playful, Lil' Funky, Mad Funky – a spectrum from 'you'll like this' to 'you might not, but at least it's interesting'. [ Summer 2025: 100 great places to eat around Ireland Opens in new window ] The staff are charming and quick with tasters. A few natty heads linger outside, but most – including two high-profile influencers – are just here for a good glass and a bite. We steer clear of the funkier stuff and go for a bottle of Château Coupe Roses (€48) – crunchy red fruit, bursts of bramble, a vin vivant – which throws off a reassuring amount of debris. READ MORE We start with sourdough (€6), baked that morning in Bold Boy, the in-house bakery. It's topped with whipped cod's roe and chives chopped with the kind of precision that would earn full marks from @ratemychives on Instagram. A Connemara oyster (€4) with jalapeño granita leaves my mouth tingling, the oyster's brine a prominent note against the heat of the granita. Notions, Francis Street, Dublin 8. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times And then on to the snacks, at €9 each. Radishes are piled on top of romesco sauce and dusted with hazelnuts. The romesco delivers a rich, peppery depth, lifted with a splash of wild garlic oil. Ham hock croquettes are made with a light hand – hot, loose, and smoky with Gubbeen, with an assertive mustard mayo. If you're a little croquetas-jaded, these will restore your faith. And the tempura of purple sprouting broccoli, dappled in filaments of a light crunchy batter, is glossed with gochujang mayo and dusted with nori powder. 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The greens are a mix of rocket, kale and roasted spring onions, and the anchovy dressing is sharp, with a smoky finish pulling the whole thing together. On to the large plates and asparagus, guanciale, gnocchi, Parmesan, kale (€18) is smaller than expected – but the price reflects it. Pan-fried spears of asparagus are nestled alongside gnocchi and crispy cavolo nero in a Parmesan cream, with crispy guanciale adding a punch of salty umami. Iberico pork cheek, nduja, butter bean cassoulet, salsa verde (€26) is a satisfying dish. The meat is tender without falling into 'melts in the mouth' territory; the cassoulet is loose, thick, and rich with nduja heat; and the salsa verde is snappy, vivid with acidity, bringing a welcome counterpoint. For dessert, there's just one option – caramelised white chocolate, raspberries, and buckwheat sponge (€10), an unfussy end. The raspberries are sharp, the sponge is light and nutty, and the white chocolate comes in just enough to soften the edges. An unfussy end: Caramelised white chocolate, raspberries, and buckwheat sponge. Photograph: Alan Betson Andrew Kelly, who heads up the kitchen, has an impressive background – Ballymaloe, Noma , Bastible , Potager – and it shows. The food is intelligent, modern and deeply considered, but never overwrought. The kitchen works with a precision that quietly outclasses the influencer glow in the diningroom. There's technique, sure, but also restraint – the rarest thing in a city still impressed by edible flowers and truffle oil. There's no plate pile-up. No ceremony. The pacing just works. And Notions? For all the irony, all the shrugging cool, here's the joke: it's not style over substance. It's quite simply, substance, styled well. Dinner for three with a bottle of wine was €165. The Verdict: Small plates, natural wine, and no minimum spend. Food provenance: Crowe's Farm, Ballymakenny Farm, McNally Farm, La Rousse and Caterway. Vegetarian options: The menu is primarily vegetarian. 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Irish Times
19 hours ago
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Jane Austen Wrecked My Life review: Sparky dialogue and hearty comedy carry this lovely, mischievous film
Jane Austen Wrecked My Life Director : Laura Piani Cert : 15A Starring : Camille Rutherford, Pablo Pauly, Charlie Anson, Annabelle Lengronne, Liz Crowther, Alan Fairbairn, Frederick Wiseman Running Time : 1 hr 37 mins There is a moment of classic romcom disharmony about a third of the way through this charming bilingual entertainment. Agathe Robinson, an aspiring writer who works in Paris's famous Shakespeare and Company bookshop, has arrived in a leafy corner of England for a Jane Austen retreat. Oliver, a descendant of the Regency writer, reveals, minutes after picking Agathe up, that he has little time for his ancestor. Agathe scowls at this disrespect. The two settle into mutual hatred. We know roughly how this will play out. Stories have been playing out that way since Rosalind Russell frowned towards Cary Grant. The same dynamics were at work when Meg Ryan later snapped at Billy Crystal. Laura Piani, making her feature debut, is, of course, also gesturing back to the 19th century. All those classic romcom plots, antipathy melting into affection, are deeply in debt to Austen herself. It is to Piani's great credit that her film rises above comparisons not just with Austen's work and the trad romcom but also with attempts – we're thinking of you, Bridget Jones – to weave those last two things together. No postmodern doublethink is required to sustain interest in the prickly love triangle at the core of Jane Austen Wrecked My Life. Sparky dialogue and hearty comedy keep the story aloft throughout. The actors juggle French and English with great dexterity. [ Laura Piani: 'I didn't want to do a film about a woman who is saved by a man. I believe in love, but not that' Opens in new window ] Events begin with Agathe, played by a convincingly fretful Camille Rutherford, struggling with life, love and work in the French capital. An injection of energy comes her way when Félix (Pablo Pauly), colleague and occasional squeeze, sends her story to the Jane Austen retreat, only for the organisers to break into raves. Agathe travels. Oliver (Charlie Anson) intervenes. Soon she finds herself torn between old chum and new annoyance. READ MORE Which year did Marty not visit? 1885 1955 2015 2055 What was Clint Eastwood's first film as director? The Outlaw Josey Wales Play Misty for Me Firefox Bird Who is not a sibling? Macaulay Kieran Rory Benji The actor playing the title character of which film was actually born in the US? Klute (1971) The Mask (1994) Dudley Do-Right (1999) Green Lantern (2011) What is the last Pixar film to win the best animated feature Oscar? Soul Onward Coco Inside Out Which is the odd period out? Ms Weld Dan Aykroyd in Dragnet Ms Squibb Christina Ricci in The Addams Family Who was not portrayed by Steph? Ally Lee Patrizia Breathless Which is the odd one out? Harrison Ford's other profession 2024 Palme d'Or winner Todd Haynes's notorious early short Halloween and Escape from New York Who is about to succeed, among many, many others, James Whale, Terence Fisher and Kenneth Branagh? Guillermo del Toro Ari Aster David Lowery Robert Eggers Whose daughter fought the Triffids? Alison Steadman Thora Hird Patricia Routledge Margaret Rutherford The film does occasionally struggle with getting England right. We are always aware that this is a French film-maker looking through the window at the crumpets on their doilies. But there is a mischievous intelligence at work that complements the embrace of sometimes broad misunderstandings. The film has a coolness that you find only in French comedy. It's worth it alone to hear Agathe identify, in the most Gallic of vowels, one character with a particular work. He suggests, apparently, Mr Bertram in 'Mahnsfeeld Perk'. No offence intended. Lovely film. In cinemas from Friday, June 13th
