Ed Wex-es lyrical

Pop star opens up on radio about his surprise Fleadh Cheoil show

- BY SANDRA MALLON Showbiz Editor

ED Sheeran has opened up about his surprise performance at the Fleadh Cheoil Na hEireann.

Thousands surrounded The Sky and The Ground pub in Wexford town to catch a glimpse of the UK singer, who played there on Tuesday.

Speaking to Dave Moore on Today FM, Ed - who spent his summers in Gorey with his late granny Nancy - said: "I've never actually been to this part of Wexford, I've only ever been to Gorey and I've never been to one [Fleadh Cheoil Na hEireann] before, even as a child.

"I think if you've got family that's Irish and you're brought up with that as your culture, who is someone else to tell you what you grew up with."

And the 34-year-old admitted he knows how his hit single Galway Girl is viewed. He said: "Galway Girl is seen in trad head circles as the Antichrist - but I know that it's been a gateway drug for a lot of kids to pick up instruments and learning trad and discovering new and old trad.