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 thee of this year's Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. Picture: Mark Surrdige 

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.