Ed Sheeran Stops Wexford in Its Tracks: Surprise Gig at Fleadh Cheoil 2025
Well, Wexford town didn’t see that one coming. On Tuesday night, Ed Sheeran turned up out of nowhere and packed out The Sky and The Ground pub on South Main Street, dropping tunes at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2025. A mix of chart-toppers and trad classics, all rammed into one sweaty, unforgettable session.
The rumours had been floating around, but when he actually appeared it felt unreal—a proper “is this really happening?” moment. And that’s the thing about Sheeran. For all his stadium tours and Grammy trophies, he still has this knack for showing up in tiny pubs like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Behind the scenes there’s usually a bit of planning (Gardaí don’t just pop up for the craic), but fair play to him—he never looks bothered by the small, informal setting.
Ed’s roots in Ireland are no secret—his da’s from Belfast and his granny was from Gorey—and he’s often said he sees himself as culturally Irish. It showed in spades during the gig. Eamon Murray from Beoga pointed out that Ed always tries to keep his Irish collaborations “very much an Irish-centric thing,” because he loves that “impromptu session vibe.” You can see it’s not for show—it’s who he is.
Inside the pub, he jumped in with some serious talent: Amble, BIIRD, Beoga, and Aaron Rowe. The crowd roared through “Castle on the Hill,” and when Ed whipped out a bodhrán—admitting he’s “just started getting the hang of it”—it was like watching a lad at his first session, except the lad in question has billions of Spotify streams.
The collabs were where the magic really happened. With BIIRD, he led “Wild Mountain Thyme,” his guitar weaving around fiddles and the bodhrán. He joined Amble, BIIRD, and Aaron Rowe for a cracking take on “Raglan Road,” and later linked up with Beoga, Aaron Rowe, and BIIRD again for a spine-tingling “Parting Glass.” These weren’t just token trad moments—he was right in the middle of it, living it.
And for the fans stuck outside the jam-packed pub? He strolled out and played “Perfect” acoustic, just him and his guitar. That gesture alone probably made half the town fall in love with him all over again. People online can mutter whatever they like, but the fact remains—he sells out stadiums, he dominates streaming, and here he is giving Wexford a memory for life.
Meanwhile, the Fleadh Cheoil 2025 itself is on track to welcome around 750,000 visitors before wrapping up on Sunday, with TG4 covering it live. And already the talk is turning north—Belfast 2026. Murray from Beoga reckons Belfast is “unbeknownst to itself a really well-placed city to have it,” with its deep ties to music, culture, and art.
Ed’s surprise slot wasn’t just a fun cameo. It was a reminder of his grá for Ireland and trad, of how global fame hasn’t dulled that connection. He doesn’t need to prove himself anymore, but when he sits in a Wexford pub trading songs with local musicians, it’s clear why people all over the world—and especially here—can’t help but call him one of our own.
