Watch: Ed Sheeran's surprise Fleadh performance at Wexford pub

James Cox

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

"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."