Bitter family rift at the heart of Ed Sheeran’s Emerald Isle roots: How Suffolk- born singer’s beloved grandparents were shunned by loved ones, as he cops backlash for ‘identifying culturally’ as Irish

A deep-seated family disagreement, central to Ed Sheeran’s origins, has come to light following his controversial statement about identifying culturally as Irish on The Louis Theroux Podcast, which ignited a backlash.

Though the artist, aged 34, hails from Halifax, Yorkshire originally, he was brought up in Suffolk. He boasts several relatives in Ireland and cherishes memories of his vacations there during his youth.

John’s family originates from Belfast, and he is one of eight children born to Nancy Mulligan and William Sheeran.

During the Second World War, Nancy, a devout Catholic from the Republic of Ireland, found herself falling in love with a Protestant man hailing from Northern Ireland. This romantic connection stirred up significant controversy within their respective families on either side of the divide.

The strife that arose within Ed’s family on his father’s side served as the catalyst for his writing the popular 2017 song “Nancy Mulligan,” which was named after his grandmother.

The traditional song narrates a story about his ancestors facing rejection due to interfaith marriage.

Contemplating their romantic event, Ed mused: ‘They became engaged, but there were no guests at their wedding. He swiped all the gold teeth from his dental office and transformed them into a wedding band, while they donned borrowed attire for the ceremony.’

Instead, let’s imagine a love story reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, as it’s one of the most enchanting romances.

Sign up for our DailyMail Showbiz newsletter to keep updated on the latest celebrity scandals, wardrobe malfunctions on the red carpet, must-see photos, and trending entertainment moments!

In spite of the fact that the couple, who met in London during World War II and eventually returned to their homeland, Ireland, after many years, not having the backing of their families, they still managed to establish their own family and had an impressive eight children over their nearly 70-year union.

In addition to Ed’s dad John, they also had Jim, Bill, Peter, Chris, MaryAnne, Bridget, and the late Sally as well as 23 grandchildren. During their leisure time, Ed often spent holidays with his grandparents in County Wexford.

or

Ed and John were not only father and son but also shared other family members such as Jim, Bill, Peter, Chris, MaryAnne, Bridget, the deceased Sally, and 23 grandchildren. On vacations, Ed frequently visited his grandparents in County Wexford.

As a lifestyle advisor, I find myself reflecting on the passing of two remarkable individuals – William in 2013, and Nancy at the age of 98 in 2023. Unfortunately, during this time, my close friend Ed found himself embroiled in an ongoing, high-profile copyright trial in New York, which unfortunately prevented him from attending Nancy’s funeral. However, I am delighted to report that he ultimately emerged victorious from this legal battle.

At the service, Ed’s father expressed that the singer was deeply saddened to have missed his cherished grandmother’s funeral, but he felt compelled to uphold his personal values and reputation overseas instead.

Afterward, he referred to the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ tale mentioned in Ed’s song. It was at a party held at a Guy’s nurses’ home where Ed’s mom, a nurse, met Dad, who was a dental student.

The bond between them started as friendship and blossomed into romance, however, Dad’s Northern Irish Presbyterian relatives went to great lengths to put an end to the relationship.

At their wedding, only one relative from the immediate family was present – Peggy, who is mum’s twin sister. They resided in a building above a dental practice situated in South London, raising a growing brood that eventually numbered five sons and three daughters. Mum would often humorously mention to us that she had initially desired to have 11 children so she could experience the joy of having an eleven-player football or cricket team.

In 2017, when Ed’s romantic-inspired song was unveiled, a heartwarming video surfaced showing his grandmother hearing it for the very first time.

In an interview with RTE News, the individual, who was 92 at the time, stated: “I won’t ever consider him as a celebrity; I must admit. He remains just the same as he’s always been whenever he comes to visit.

Additionally, this is quite unusual as he seems to be constantly engaged in work. Given that he started working at 14 years old, one can’t help but empathize with his fatigue, yet he clearly cherishes it.

After Nancy’s passing, Ed admitted that her loss served as the inspiration behind the song “Supermarket Flowers” on his album titled “Divide.

He shared on social platforms: ‘When my grandmother sadly passed away, I composed a song titled “Supermarket Flowers,” which reflects on the experience. The lyrics depict me packing up her hospital room. I was deeply moved by the care she received there – the staff were wonderful, kind, humorous, and caring individuals.’

‘My family and I grew incredibly fond of the nursing staff at that facility, and my mother continues to keep in touch with them. I’d like to pay a heartfelt tribute to my grandmother, who was the musically gifted one among us. I hope to pass on this talent to my own children someday.’

On the recent installment of The Louis Theroux Podcast, Ed shared insights into his ancestry, stating: ‘I consider myself to be of Irish descent. That’s what I was raised with.’

I hail from a rather sizable clan, as my father has no fewer than seven siblings. Every holiday season found us jetting off to the Emerald Isle.

My initial encounters with music took place in Ireland, where traditional tunes filled our home. This cultural background makes me feel Irish at heart, yet geographically, I was brought up and nurtured in Great Britain.

The artist behind “Galway Girl” expressed pride in his Irish cultural background, stating that he didn’t feel compelled to solely identify as British, emphasizing instead that one’s identity is a matter of personal feelings.

He mentioned: “I don’t dwell excessively on it, but I take great pride in my cultural background that I was raised with and wish to showcase.

And it seems to me that merely being born in Britain doesn’t automatically make me strictly British, as I know many others who are mixed heritage – part here, part there.

It appears that personal feelings, upbringing, and individual inclinations seem to guide the way things are done in this case.

Additionally, when questioned about receiving much affection in Ireland, the top-ranking celebrity likewise lauded the country for being a place that feels like “my second home.

He considers it his musical second home, and he has achieved the most musical success in Ireland.

Previously in an interview, Ed mentioned that he hails from an Irish family and that a large part of his youth was spent enjoying summer vacations, birthday celebrations, and Christmas holidays in Ireland, where he was immersed in traditional music performances.

Ed’s remarks incited criticism when fans responded on the platform that used to be called Twitter, refuting his claim of being Irish. They alleged that he was feigning it instead.

As a die-hard fan, I’d rephrase it like this: “Pretending is what identifying seems to be for me; could the talented Ed Sheeran qualify for the starting lineup of the Irish national football team?” And, in the spirit of loyalty and fandom, I’d add, “He surely deserves the chance.

Origin doesn’t dictate one’s identity; it’s one’s ancestry that defines who they are. Cliff Richard hails from India, yet does that make him Indian? You can be born in any corner of the globe, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you belong to that culture by default.

1. Although he is part of the Irish diaspora, he considers himself English.

2. Why can’t he simply express his own identity?

3. The song “Galway Girl” surely left him bewildered.

1. Option A: Ed Sheeran concert billboards, perfect for burning as a beacon.

2. Option B: Ed Sheeran tour posters, suitable for igniting atop a bonfire.

3. Option C: Ed Sheeran gig advertisements, ideal for setting fire on the pyre.

For the Irish context (Option B): Ed Sheeran tour posters, now fit to join An Garda Síochána.

His song ‘Galway Girl’ is surely among the poorest songs ever written…it’s just full of tired Irish stereotypes…he even missed an opportunity to include the classic ‘up the ra’ shout in the lyrics. Despite seeming like a nice person, his music leaves much to be desired.

In their discussion, others perceived his perspective as valid since he has an Irish father.

It’s possible to spend part of your life living in England, yet maintain a cultural identity as Irish. Such cases aren’t unheard of.

‘He has roots. Nothing wrong with identifying with your heritage. He looks like us too.’

Read More

2025-06-12 02:34