There has always been a misunderstanding about Ed Sheeran’s nationality. People get confused and ask questions like; is Ed Sheeran Irish? Or British, Canadian, or Aussie?
Out of the countries mentioned above, Ed Sheeran has links with only two of them.
Ed Sheeran was born in West Yorkshire in England; therefore, he is English. But he also has strong links to Ireland because his grandparents are both still living in Ireland and his father is from an Irish Catholic family.
The “Castle On The Hill” singer spent most of his childhood vacation including summers, birthdays, Christmases, and New years in Ireland with the Irish side of his family.
Ed loves his grandmother Nancy so much that, in 2017, he dedicated the song Nancy Mulligan from the album ‘Divide’ to her. Ed is a real admirer of traditional Irish music.
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He never missed a chance to show his music skills when learning Irish musical instruments such as the bodhrán, which is an Irish drum. Sheeran played that instrument in the music video for ‘Photograph’.
Besides Irish traditional musical instruments, he also has a lot of love and respect for Irish music artists. I’m pretty sure you all listen to Ed’s song ‘Galway Girl’ but how many of you know this song was inspired by the Irish folk band Beoga? Ed said:
“It was based on the fiddle player in Beoga, Niamh. She’s married to an Irishman, a friend of mine, I had the band in my house for an extra day so I was like ‘what can I write about? She plays the fiddle in an Irish band… right, cool, let’s write a song about that. She inspired the first line but the rest of the song isn’t about anyone I just made up a story.”
Why do People think Ed Sheeran is Irish?
Well, most people think Ed Sheeran is Irish because of the two songs he sang in his album ‘Divide’ in 2017. These include ‘Nancy Mulligan’ and ‘Galway Girl’. His fan’s predictions are not 100% incorrect.
Ed Sheeran himself is indeed English. At the same time, you can’t deny the influence of Irish culture Sheeran has had since his childhood. You can say Ed Sheeran is mixed with British and Irish culture.
No doubt Ed considers Ireland as his second home. As we all know, Sheeran has an enormous amount of fan followers around the world.
This is especially so for Irish people who consider Sheeran as one of them. Ed gets unconditional love from the Irish people and they are always proud of him.
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Ed was spotted hanging out with his friend Niall Horan from One Direction on the Emerald Isle. Moreover, he has a good friendship with famous guitarist Johnny McDaid from the band Snow Patrol.
They both attended a traditional Irish wedding and performed together. Now you can imagine why people think Ed Sheeran is Irish.
What Did Ed Sheeran Irish Say in a BBC Interview About His Irish Childhood and Culture?
He shared many unknown facts about his life and spoke about the experience of making his album ‘Divide’ in the interview with the BBC.
Sheeran talked about his grandparents, who are from Ireland, and how he spent his childhood summers in Ireland. He said:
“I come from an Irish family, spent most of my childhood summers and birthdays and Christmases in Ireland listening to trad music bands.”
He was asked whether the song Galway Girl is the cover of the Steve Earle classic or not. He answered,
“No, it’s an original. I actually tried to find another lyric. I did Wexford Girl and Clonakity Girl and Cork Girl… none of them worked”.
“But the whole point of folk songs is taking inspiration from the past and making something new – so people will just have to deal with it”.
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People get confused about this song because it’s the title. He mentioned to the BBC that his cousin Laura Sheeran is a musician who lives in Ireland and Ed spent so much time with his cousin in his earlier life.
Conclusion:
Now you can understand where Ed Sheeran belongs and what his nationality is. This British musical genius reaches every music lover’s heart. Though he’s not Irish, he has a strong blood relationship with the Irish people.
Remember, a real musician reaches his fan’s hearts by his music, not by his nationality.
Ed Sheeran Irish Songs FAQ
Q: Is Ed Sheeran Irish? A: No, Ed Sheeran is not Irish. He was born on February 17, 1991, in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. However, he does have Irish heritage through his paternal grandparents.
Q: Does Ed Sheeran sing any Irish songs? A: Yes, Ed Sheeran has performed and recorded several songs that are inspired by Irish music or have Irish themes. One notable example is “Galway Girl” from his album “÷” (Divide), which incorporates traditional Irish sounds and mentions Irish locations.
Q: Is “Galway Girl” a traditional Irish song? A: No, “Galway Girl” is not a traditional Irish song. It was written by Ed Sheeran and co-written by Amy Wadge and Damian McKee. However, it draws heavily on Irish folk music influences and celebrates the spirit of Galway, Ireland.
Q: Are there other Ed Sheeran songs with Irish influences? A: Yes, besides “Galway Girl,” Ed Sheeran’s music occasionally features Irish influences. For example, “Nancy Mulligan” from the same album as “Galway Girl” tells the story of his Irish grandparents and their love story.
Q: Does Ed Sheeran perform in Ireland often? A: Yes, Ed Sheeran has a strong fan base in Ireland and has performed numerous concerts there throughout his career. He has played in venues such as Croke Park in Dublin, among others.
Q: Has Ed Sheeran collaborated with Irish musicians? A: Yes, Ed Sheeran has collaborated with several Irish musicians. For instance, he has worked with Irish folk band Beoga, who featured on his song “Galway Girl.” Additionally, he has collaborated with artists like Snow Patrol, who are from Northern Ireland.
Q: Are there any upcoming projects where Ed Sheeran might explore more Irish music? A: While there haven’t been specific announcements regarding Ed Sheeran’s future projects focusing on Irish music, he has shown an affinity for incorporating various musical styles into his work. Fans can anticipate that he may continue to explore and integrate Irish influences in his music in the future.
