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Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Biird star Lisa Canny recalls ‘bonkers' gig with Ed Sheeran at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann
The Mayo woman and some of her bandmates joined Sheeran, Amble, Beoga and Aaron Rowe in a surprise gig in Wexford town during the ongoing Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. Large crowds flocked to the Sky and the Ground on South Main Street when news of Sheeran's presence filtered through the town, which is expected to welcome 750,000 people over the course of the eight-day traditional Irish music festival. There, he treated the small, intimate crowd to a number of his biggest hits, including 'Nancy Mulligan' – which was inspired by his grandparents – 'Castle On A Hill', 'Galway Girl' and 'Perfect'. He was also accompanied by the groups for a rendition of the well-known Irish folk song 'Wild Mountain Thyme'. The gig had been planned by Warner Music weeks in advance with what were described as 'M16 level preparations'. Speaking on Newstalk, BIIRD founder Lisa Canny described the gig as 'bonkers'. Mr Sheeran wore the band's signature white jersey which the band have sold as merchandise. Ms Canny founded BIIRD earlier this year with a large group of other female traditional Irish musicians, including fellow Mayo woman, Sal Heneghan. 'We just came off the main stage at All Together Now on Sunday and sure we were dying a death on Monday and then had to go down to Wexford on Tuesday to hop on a song with Ed Sheeran,' explained Ms Canny, who hails from Hollymount. 'It was surreal, we haven't really taken it all in yet but he was an absolute dote,' added the renowned harpist and banjo player. 'There's no airs and graces about him whatsoever, he was as sound as could be. He came up and literally sat down with us and asking about our plans and offering us advice and help and gave us contact details. He's sound, sound as could be.' Mr Sheeran was born and raised in Yorkshire but spent a lot of his time in Ireland as a child.
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Mayo musician Lisa Canny recalls ‘bonkers' gig with Ed Sheeran
The Mayo woman and some of her bandmates joined Sheeran, Amble, Beoga and Aaron Rowe in a surprise gig in Wexford town during the ongoing Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. Large crowds flocked to the Sky and the Ground on South Main Street when news of Sheeran's presence filtered through the town, which is expected to welcome 750,000 people over the course of the eight-day traditional Irish music festival. There, he treated the small, intimate crowd to a number of his biggest hits, including 'Nancy Mulligan' – which was inspired by his grandparents – 'Castle On A Hill', 'Galway Girl' and 'Perfect'. He was also accompanied by the groups for a rendition of the well-known Irish folk song 'Wild Mountain Thyme'. The gig had been planned by Warner Music weeks in advance with what were described as 'M16 level preparations'. Speaking on Newstalk, BIIRD founder Lisa Canny described the gig as 'bonkers'. Mr Sheeran wore the band's signature white jersey which the band have sold as merchandise. Ms Canny founded BIIRD earlier this year with a large group of other female traditional Irish musicians, including fellow Mayo woman, Sal Heneghan. 'We just came off the main stage at All Together Now on Sunday and sure we were dying a death on Monday and then had to go down to Wexford on Tuesday to hop on a song with Ed Sheeran,' explained Ms Canny, who hails from Hollymount. 'It was surreal, we haven't really taken it all in yet but he was an absolute dote,' added the renowned harpist and banjo player. 'There's no airs and graces about him whatsoever, he was as sound as could be. He came up and literally sat down with us and asking about our plans and offering us advice and help and gave us contact details. He's sound, sound as could be.' Mr Sheeran was born and raised in Yorkshire but spent a lot of his time in Ireland as a child.
BreakingNews.ie
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Watch: Ed Sheeran's surprise Fleadh performance at Wexford pub
Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran made a surprise appearance at the Fleadh Cheoil in Wexford on Tuesday with a performance at the Sky & The Ground pub. Punters at the pub on Wexford's South Main Street were treated to a surprise performance from the global star, whose family roots can be traced back to Co Wexford. Advertisement Rumours had been circulating about a possible appearance from Sheeran, but Fleadh organisers had remained tight-lipped. A large crowd had gathered inside and outside the pub when Sheeran began to perform a number of his hits. The songs he played included Nancy Mulligan, a song he wrote to honour his Wexford-born grandmother Anne Mary Sheeran, who died in 2023 at the age of 98. 🎸 Ed Sheeran is currently in Sky and the Ground performing Nancy Mulligan for pub goers. There won't be a strawberry picked tonight! #edsheeran #fleadhcheoil #nancymulligan — Beat 102 103 (@beat102103) August 5, 2025 Sheeran also performed with trad group Biird. Not wanting to disappoint those who had turned out to see him, Sheeran also performed to the large crowd outside of the pub. Advertisement The 34-year-old English star recently said he identifies culturally as Irish. 'I class my culture as Irish. I think that's what I grew up with,' he told The Louis Theroux Podcast. The Fleadh Cheoil is in full swing, with 750,000 people expected to attend throughout the week. Wexford also hosted the event last year, when 650,000 people turned out. A world record attempt will take place at the Fleadh on Thursday. At last year's Fleadh Cheoil, the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Fleadh group successfully set a world record for a tin whistle ensemble, with over 2,000 people taking part. Advertisement This year's attempt will take place at Wexford Park, and it will look to set a Céili Band ensemble record. A group called Castlebridge Inspire, which celebrates the town's status as the birthplace of the Guinness Book of Records, will be involved in facilitating the ambitious attempt. John Ryan, who runs Castlebridge Inspire, told : "Last year we did the tin whistle ensemble Guinness World Record, the CEO Craig Glenday was over adjudicating on that one, we needed 1,015 and we got 2,516 in the end. Ireland Fleadh record attempt backed by Wexford birthplace... Read More "We had to play a couple of songs for five minutes. That was probably one of the biggest ensembles at any Fleadh to to date, and it was also the first Fleadh official Guinness World Record attempt. Advertisement "It was so successful that we've decided to do another one this year. This one is the Céilí Band ensemble which will take place on August 7th at Chadwick's Wexford Park. The record to beat this year is 386 participants so that's what the goal is. There are three polkas pre-arranged to play for five minutes, we'll have some dancers, we have 15 different instruments for the record attempt. "This includes banjos, guitars and even a harp, along with the likes of the bodhran."
Extra.ie
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
WATCH: Ed Sheeran hits pause on tour for surprise pub session in Wexford
If you thought Tuesday nights in Wexford couldn't get any more magical, think again. Global superstar Ed Sheeran swapped stadium spotlights for the cozy glow of The Sky and The Ground pub this week, to deliver a surprise performance that will be the talk of the town for years to come. The special appearance was part of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2025 and supported by Guinness Ireland, who raised a glass to the occasion. If you thought Tuesday nights in Wexford couldn't get any more magical, think again. Pic: Mark Surridge Taking a brief pause from his sold-out European Mathematics Tour, Sheeran delighted an intimate crowd with impromptu sets alongside a dream lineup of Irish talent; the electrifying Beoga, soulful Biird, rising stars Amble, and the ever-charismatic Aaron Rowe. Between the trad tunes, sing-alongs, and the smell of fresh pints, Wexford had its very own global gig and not a stadium seat in sight. Wexford holds a special place in Ed's heart, as a child he frequented the county multiple times a year to spend time with family and friends. Recently reflecting about his connection to Ireland on The Louis Theroux Podcast, Ed 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.' Ed's grandmother Anne was actually born in an 18th-century farmhouse near Gorey where the singer would later spend his summer holidays. This is the same grandmother the singer wrote about in his song Nancy Mulligan, which was recorded in 2017. Global superstar Ed Sheeran swapped stadium spotlights for the cozy glow of The Sky and The Ground pub this week. Pic: Mark Surridge The track touches on his grandparents' love story and how they married across the religious divide, with his grandfather William having been a Protestant from Northern Ireland. Anne left home during World War Two to train as a nurse in London, this is where she met dental student Bill. The couple married and went on to have five girls and three boys before returning to Wexford in 1983. The special appearance was part of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2025 and supported by Guinness Ireland, who raised a glass to the occasion. Pic: Mark Surridge The surprise pop up is the latest in a series of 'Old Phone' pop-ups. The Thinking Out Loud Singer previously built a purpose built pub in Ipswich, Boston, then brought it to Coachella and his hometown of Ipswich. He has now brought it to the acclaimed traditional Irish pub – The Sky and The Ground in Wexford. Speaking on the performance, 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.'
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- 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.
