Ed Sheeran says he identifies culturally as Irish

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has said he identifies culturally as Irish despite being born and raised in England.

Brought up in Suffolk, the Galway Girl singers dad hails from Belfast.

"I class my culture as Irish. I think thats what I grew up with," he told The Louis Theroux Podcast.

"My dads family is... hes got seven brothers and sisters. Wed spend all of our holidays in Ireland. My first musical experiences were in Ireland, I grew up with trad music in the house. So I identify culturally as Irish, but I was obviously born and raised in Britain."

"I dont overthink it but I do feel like my culture is something that Im really proud of and grew up with and want to express," he added.

"And I feel like just because I was born in Britain doesnt necessarily mean that I have to just be (British), theres loads of people I know that are half this or quarter this."

He added: "I dont think theres any rules to it. It should be how you feel and how you were raised and what you lean into."

Asked if he gets "a lot of love" in Ireland, he said: "Id say its basically my second home, musically. Id say Ireland is the place that I am most successful musically."

Sheeran is married to Cherry Seaborn and the couple have two children. He also spoke to Theroux about the difficulties of fame and having to have security for his family.

He said that for him personally, "its kind of the part of the normal of being in the public eye" but that is was different when it came to his wife and children.

"Im very, very private about my childrens image... I cant take them to zoos or parks or anything really without someone trying to film them.

"There are times where the normal parts of life I kind of mourn for and wish I could push my kid on a swing in a public park and it not be weird, you know?"

He said: "People go, well thats the trade-off. But my kids have not signed up to that."

He added it was sometimes tricky when he was flying as he usually travels on commercial flights due to environmental concerns.

"Were flying back on Ryanair from a gig in Italy last year but all of my fans whod been at the gig were flying back!

"I like the environment, I like trees. Id find it hard to justify. No ones perfect. When were doing intense promo trips, there will be the odd time [taking a private jet]", he told Theroux.

Speaking about his music, Sheeran said: "The two joys of my life professionally are writing songs and performing. I hate releasing music. I find the whole process quite stressful.

"You love the songs so much and then suddenly youre putting them out there, and that might change your relationship with them if other people dont like them. And Im trying my hardest not to let that happen."

He also mused on his relationship with success.

"I kind of feel I had my peak with [the album] Divide and Im kind of coasting now. I dont know if Ill ever get back up there again but [when I had] that level of fame, that was my unhappiest [time].

"Im much happier with the balance Ive got now."

After releasing two acoustic albums in 2023, Sheerans upcoming pop album, Play, his eighth studio album, will be released in September.