The Irish Mail on Sunday

Ed’s fans happy to join the glee by the Lee

- By Danny McElhinney

ON the first night of his massive Irish tour, Ed Sheeran enjoyed a tumultuous reception from the people of Cork at the first night of his sell-out nine-concert tour.

Around 50,000 fans came to each of the opening two nights of the Divide tour and another 50,000 will travel to the newly spruced-up Páirc Uí Chaoimh tonight to see the ginger-haired troubadour.

Wearing his trademark checked shirt and a T-shirt with ‘Hoax’ on the front, he fired volley after volley of hits at the huddled masses.

He opened with Castles In The Air from his latest album to deafening screams and cheers. And he brought his A game to versions of The A Team and other tracks from his breakthrou­gh “+” and “x” albums.

Most of the songs, however, came from Divide and he took a slight swipe at critics who complained he lip-synced at last year’s Glastonbur­y.

However, no matter how often I see the Sussex singer-songwriter, it still astonishes me that he can keep monster crowds in the palm of his hand with just that guitar, his effects and a bashful persona.

It wasn’t only Leeside locals who came to see the 27-year-old star. Superfan Aisling Egan travelled from Blanchards­town for the Friday and Saturday shows and only work stopped her from going again tonight.

The equivalent of roughly 10% of the population will have seen Sheeran by the time he finishes his current Irish jaunt in the Phoenix Park on May 19. ‘I want to see weird dancing and loud singing and everyone to go home losing their voices,’ he said, after two songs.

Lego House, I’m A Mess and Happier gave the audience every opportunit­y to do that. The slow, emotive Supermarke­t Flowers saw the vast majority of the crowd hold their phones aloft, bathing Páirc Uí Chaoimh in a sea of shimmering light.

Opening acts Beoga, Jamie Lawson and Ann Marie had earlier got the crowds in the mood. Sheeran invited Beoga back on stage for the rabblerous­ing Galway Girl and, not unexpected­ly, it proved to be a real highlight. The song was said to be inspired by the band’s fiddle player Niamh Dunne, although she actually comes from Limerick. They stayed on for another Irish-influenced track from Divide, Nancy Mulligan, before departing to rapturous applause.

After closing with Sing, it almost came as no surprise that Sheeran reappeared for an encore wearing a Cork GAA jersey. The No.2 top sat a little loosely on his frame as he belted out the Shape Of You while an extended You Don’t Need Me, I Don’t Need You brought the night to a close. And with a wave and a fist pump, he was gone. After another sell-out Cork show tonight, Belfast, Galway and Dublin await. He left Leeside most definitely conquered.

‘He fired volley after volley of hits at masses’ ‘I want to see weird dancing and singing’

 ??  ?? high note: Ed Sheeran on stage in Cork on Friday night
high note: Ed Sheeran on stage in Cork on Friday night
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 ??  ?? fan scene: More than 50,000 packed into stadium for show
fan scene: More than 50,000 packed into stadium for show

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