Ed Sheeran says he identifies "culturally as Irish"
The English-born Ed Sheeran has said he considers himself culturally Irish, despite growing up in Suffolk.
Speaking on The Louis Theroux Podcast , the 34-year-old singer-songwriter explained that his strong Irish roots, particularly on his fathers side, shaped his identity from a young age.
'Wed spend all of our holidays in Ireland. My first musical experiences were in Ireland… so I identify culturally as Irish,' he said. Sheeran also described Ireland as his 'second home musically.'
That connection to Ireland began early. In 2004, a 13-year-old Sheeran attended a Damien Rice gig at Whelans in Dublin with his dad, a turning point he has often described as his musical awakening.
Inspired by Rice's solo performance, Sheeran returned home and wrote his first six songs that night.
In a 2018 interview, before a string of shows in Croke Park, Sheeran spoke to Hot Press ' Stuart Clark and told him about his connection to Ireland, particularly when it came to his late Irish grandmother.
'Whenever I come to Ireland I just want to spend as much time with her as possible,' he explained to Clark at the time, 'Ireland is more about catching up with family, cups of tea and things like that.
'I was brought up on Irish music,' Sheeran said, 'I've listened to a whole bunch of it and its definitely been an influence.'
The interview was first published in a 2018 issue featuring a cover with a young Ed Sheeran.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
12 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Love Island ‘bullying' row sparked as Shakira and Toni ‘gang up' on Emily in ‘uncomfortable' scenes
LOVE Island is embroiled in a 'bullying' row that has left viewers feeling 'uncomfy'. The ITV2 show's fresh bullying row has seemingly been sparked by Shakira and Toni after they went up against Emily in Sunday night's instalment of Love Island. 5 Toni previously said Emily was annoying because of he 'Little Miss Sunshine' persona Credit: Eroteme 5 Shakira and Toni aren't Emily's biggest fans Credit: Eroteme 5 Shakira pulled Emily aside for a chat Credit: Eroteme 5 The two women chatted, though didn't agree Credit: Eroteme Shakira, 22, and Toni, 24, were seen 'ganging up' on Emily, 24, in 'uncomfortable' scenes. On Friday night, Toni seemingly accused Emily of being nosey, with the two women going head to head. Toni was seen chatting to Meg saying: "I can't listen to her. 'Little Miss Sunshine' all the time." Elsewhere in the episode, Toni said: "Emily's just f**king nosey." Read More about Love Island And then, in tonight's episode, things came to a head when Shakira got involved. 'I feel like in situations, it's a case of reading the room a little bit…I feel like you've not made an effort with us,' Shakira said to Emily. Later when Shakira mentions Toni having a bad day, Emily hits back. "Just cause she's in a bad mood doesn't mean I can't be in a good mood…you should have come to me," Emily said. Most read in Love Island The two don't agree and leave things there but when Shakira hears Emily telling the group about their conversation, the argument is reignited. Shakira then pulled Emily aside to say she sometimes finds her "bitchy". Saucy sex position dare sparks Love Island row as TWO couples are on the rocks after spin the bottle game She explained how sometimes it feels like Emily will tell the other girls stuff that has been said. Emily then said that she didn't feel this was true. "What's with the bullying in this villa????" asked one person on X as the scenes played out. "So uncomfy to watch. All the girls just bullying one another it's disgusting," added a second. Love Island 2025 full lineup : A 30-year-old footballer with charm to spare. : A 22-year-old Manchester-based model, ready to turn heads. : A payroll specialist from Southampton, looking for someone tall and stylish. : International business graduate with brains and ambition. : A gym enthusiast with a big heart. : A Londoner with celebrity connections, aiming to find someone funny or Northern. : An Irish actress already drawing comparisons to Maura Higgins. : A personal trainer and semi-pro footballer, following in his footballer father's footsteps. : A towering 6'5' personal trainer. : A 25-year-old Irish rugby pro. : Love Island's first bombshell revealed as sexy Las Vegas pool party waitress. : The 24-year-old bombshell hails from London and works as a commercial banking executive. : A teaching assistant from Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, who entered Love Island 2025 as a bombshell . : Works as a scaffolder day-to-day and plays semi-pro football on the side. : Pro footballer and model entering Love Island 2025 as a bombshell. Departures : : Axed after an arrest over a machete attack emerged. He was released with no further action taken and denies any wrongdoing. : A model and motivational speaker who has overcome adversity after suffering life-changing burns in an accident. : A boxer with striking model looks, seeking love in the villa. A third then slammed: "Bullying at its b**ches." While a fourth wrote: "What the hell is that argument about then with shakira, Toni and Emily? It's about nothing. "All it looks like is both Toni and Shakira are bullying Emily." A fifth then penned: "No not being funny but any girls would go tell their girls about an argument they had just had. "Toni and shakira are the real bullies here." While a sixth said: "Emily hasn't done anything to deserve this. "Shakira and Toni are bullies. Simple. So unattractive." 5 Emily has divided her castmates and viewers at home Credit: Eroteme
The Irish Sun
27 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Irish actress includes sweet nod to mum in latest blockbuster role alongside Brad Pitt as she proudly embraces her roots
IRISH actress Kerry Condon has revealed the touching way she honoured her mum in her latest blockbuster role. The Tipperary native stars alongside 3 Kerry is taking on the role of Kate McKenna in F1 Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 3 She stars alongside Brad Pitt Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 3 The actress has revealed the heartfelt way she honoured her mum in the film Kerry is taking on the role of Kate McKenna, the race director of the fictional APXGP team and the first female technical director in Formula 1. The actress has shared that it meant a lot to her when the directors encouraged her to keep her Irish accent for the role as she's keen to represent Irish women on the big screen. She pointed out how rare it is to hear a female lead in a major movie speak with an Irish accent and she was delighted to bring that authenticity to her character. Kerry told the READ MORE ON KERRY CONDON "And then they wanted me to be Irish. I thought, 'Jeez, I don't think I've seen that before, the Irish accent in a female lead, in a big massive movie." She also opened up about a heartfelt nod to her mum in the film. Kerry confessed: "I wanted to wear my Claddagh ring in the movie too, one that my mother got me and I wear all the time, so my character got to wear that." The film star recently revealed how MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN The female killers were among a group of followers who were brainwashed by cult leader in in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Kerry said she used various sources of inspiration to play Doireann in her new Brad Pitt makes red carpet debut with girlfriend Ines de Ramon The Co 'I saw a picture and there was something a little creepy and so I ran with that idea.' The Manson Family were confirmed to have Three female members of the group — Susan Atkins, Linda Kasabian and Patricia Krenwinkel — were killers with pregnant movie star Sharon Tate, the 26-year-old wife of director Kerry, from Thurles, said that in order to stand up to VILLAIN-SPIRATION She continued: 'Initially, I was a bit like, 'Oh, jeez, my work's going to be cut out for me because Liam Neeson's really tall'. 'Tall to a regular person, and I'm pretty small, so he's really tall compared to me. 'When I'm standing beside him the audience have to believe that Liam would feel me as a threat. 'Then I remembered various villains in the past that I was affected by, like Joe Pesci in Goodfellas. They might not have been physically menacing but there was something about them that was really nerve-wrecking. 'Personalities that feel a little unhinged, and unpredictable. So I started to tap into that. 'I remembered the mother in The Goonies was a strange-looking person. I thought about the idea that people who think negative things, physically they're not smiley and bright and their energy isn't nice. 'All these negative thoughts and negative vibrations manifest in your body.'
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Love Island's Helena slammed by fans as ‘insecure' as they ‘work out' her real game plan
LOVE Island's Helena has been slammed by fans for being 'insecure' as they 'work out' her real game plan. Viewers watching tonight's episode of Love Island were quick to call out 29-year-old Helena for being "nasty" and "insecure". 4 Helena spoke about Toni while on the sun loungers Credit: ITV 4 She was chatting to Harrison Credit: ITV 4 Fans slammed Helena and her 'game plan' Credit: ITV Sitting down with new boy Harrison, 22, to chat and flirt, Helena was talking about his other love interest, Toni, 24. Helena explained how she thought Toni was "marking her territory" with Harrison. She also said that it sometimes felt like Toni didn't like her talking to Harrison. Harrison was stunned and intrigued as Helena spoke about the American bombshell. Read More about Love Island Fans were quick to react to the comments Helena made about other girls - specifically Toni - to Harrison. "Helena's chat is literally just talking down other girls," noted one person on X. "I'm seeing a very nasty pattern with Helena….." said a second. A third penned: "Helena's main personality trait is putting other girls down. And she has the audacity to call THEM boring." Most read in Love Island "Can we get a compilation of Helena talking shit about the girls behind their backs on movie night please," pleaded a fourth. "Helena seems very insecure…" noted a fifth. Saucy sex position dare sparks Love Island row as TWO couples are on the rocks after spin the bottle game "Helena always has to put down other women to make herself more desirable. Gross," said a sixth. This comes after an explosive episode saw chaos ensue the house following a game of Spin The Bottle. In tonight's episode, a raunchy game of Spin The Bottle played out as the Islanders were faced with telling truths and direct dares. Irish rugby player Conor got a dare to put the person who he thinks is best in bed, in his "most favourite sex position". He picked Irish beauty Megan before getting her to lay on her tummy on the floor and declaring his favourite position to be "speed bumps". Conor then hovered above her as they giggled and he said: "Pump." Tommy, who Megan is currently coupled up with, watched on in horror and shook his head. Welsh beauty Emily, who Conor said he was most invested in, then said: "If he carries on, he'll never find out how I am in bed." 4 Conor put Emily in his favourite sex position, which was 'speed bumps' Credit: Instagram / loveisland
