ED DOES HIS BIT FOR WEXFORD TOURISM
ED Sheeran, whose granny lives in Wexford, is proudly supporting the county in a new Irish tourism video aimed squarely at wooing British tourists to the Emerald Isle amid concerns over Brexit’s impact on the number of visitors from across the Irish Sea.
‘If you’re travelling to Ireland to do touristy things, go and see Dingle Bay; if you want to live in Ireland for a bit, live in Wexford,’ says the biggest male pop star on the planet in a new Tourism Ireland promo.
The video was filmed back in June at a fundraising event in the London Irish Centre in Camden where Sheeran performed and enjoyed a ‘bromance’ onstage with pal Dermot O’Leary, another famous face with strong Wexford links.
Sheeran, whose song ‘Nancy Mulligan’ was inspired by the relationship of his late grandfather Bill, a founder member of Gorey Boxing Club, and grandmother Anne who lives in Monaseed, tells O’Leary he has ‘more of a connection with an Irish crowd’.
‘That is just because of my heritage, going over there five times a year and then being into and influenced by Irish music.
‘My favourite place in Ireland? I always went to Co. Wexford but Dingle Bay is really beautiful.’
The singer has previously spoken of childhood visits to Wexford, for summer and Christmas holidays.
The sellout event in the London Irish Centre raised a substantial sum of money for projects run by the LIC to provide care, culture and support for the Irish community in London. Ahead of his appearance at the event, hosted by X Factor and radio presenter O’Leary, Sheeran said, ‘My Irish heritage is something of which I’ve always been proud of, so this concert feels like a natural fit.’
Tourism Ireland were quick to see the value of the event and plan to use the video of Ed and Dermot to promote Ireland in the UK as part of an autumn campaign.
Dermot O’Leary, who has previously spoken of his proud Wexford heritage, is a regular visitor to Wexford. His parents Maria and Sean, Wexford town natives who returned from the UK last year to settle back in Wexford, have a large family network in Wexford, including Maria’s sister Angela Browne of Mulgannon and Sean’s brothers Dermot and Fintan, along with nephews, nieces and cousins.