WATCH: Ed Sheeran shocks Wexford fans after making surprise appearance at Fleadh Cheoil

Global superstar Ed Sheeran held a very special performance in the town of Wexford for none other than the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2025!

Appearing at acclaimed traditional Irish pub, The Sky and The Ground, the musician delighted fans by taking time off his sold-out 'Mathematics' tour for the unexpected appearance on Tuesday, August 5. He was also joined by other acclaimed Irish musicians such as Beoga, Biird, Amble and Aaron Rowe. 

Wexford holds a special place in the singer-songwriters heart because as a child, Ed frequented the town multiple times a year to spend time with family and friends.

@warnermusicirl Ed Sheeran live at the Fleadh in Wexford! @Beoga !!! #edsheeran #fleadh #edsheeranlive #music #ireland ♬ original sound - Warner Music Ireland

Recently speaking about his connection to Ireland on The Louis Theroux Podcast, Ed 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.” This special appearance brings Ed back to his roots, with no better time to be in Wexford than during the renowned Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. 

This surprise is the latest in a series of ‘Old Phone’ pop-ups. The father-of-two built a purpose built pub in Ipswich, Boston, brought it to Coachella, did a pop in his hometown of Ipswich and has now brought it to the acclaimed traditional Irish pub - The Sky and The Ground in Wexford.

On performing in the pub, Caolán Barron, from the Barron family-run pub said, “We’re delighted to welcome Wexford-man Ed Sheeran to The Sky and 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 and all thanks to our closer partner Guinness for making it possible.”

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After closing the chapter on his 'Mathematics' series, Ed Sheeran is finally back and stepping into a fresh new phase for 2025. An artist known for constantly evolving, Sheeran’s latest album, 'Play', finds him exploring new musical ground through collaboration with producers and musicians from around the world, as well as diving deeper into the timeless sounds and themes that have made him one of the world’s biggest pop artists.

@warnermusicirl @Amble , @Aaron Rowe , @Beoga , @biird & @Ed Sheeran collaborate at the Fleadh #edsheeran #amble #biird #music #ireland #fleadh #fyp ♬ original sound - Warner Music Ireland

Inspired in part by his exposure to Indian and Persian musical cultures and their surprising connections to the Irish folk tradition he grew up with, he explored this borderless musical language, giving the album a distinctive, fresh edge. 

On more familiar ground, Sheeran also reminds us why he remains the most influential singer-songwriter of his generation, delivering a series of stunning ballads and acoustic-driven songs. The result is a collection that plays with both the familiar and the new, creating a bold, pop-driven sound that is a vibrant showcase of his artistry.  

Speaking about his upcoming album, Ed Sheeran said, “Play was an album that was made as a direct response to the darkest period of my life. Coming out of all of that I just wanted to create joy and technicolour, and explore cultures in the countries I was touring. I made this record all over the world, finished it in Goa, India, and had some of the most fun, explorative creative days of my life.

@irish.gigs Ed Sheeran king of the mashups Don’t x No Diggity x The Next Episode #edsheeran #wexford #dont #nodiggity #thenextepisode #wexford #fleadh #fleadhcheoilnaheireann #fleadhceoil #theskyandtheground ♬ original sound - IrishGigGal

"It’s a real rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish, it encapsulates everything that I love about music and the fun in it, but also where I am in life as a human, a partner, a father. Going into this album campaign I said to myself ‘I just want everything I do to be fun and playful’ - so that’s why we are building pubs for folk jams, doing gigs on open top buses and singing in pink cowboy hats on bars. The older I get the more I just want to enjoy things, and savour the moments that are mad and chaotic. You can pre-order ‘Play’ now, many many more playful things to come before it’s out," he concluded. 

Ed Sheeran’s forthcoming album ‘Play’ is out September 12.