Ed Sheeran surprises fans with performance at Irish pub

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has surprised fans by playing a number of original songs and Irish tunes during a music and arts festival in Wexford town.

The hitmaker played alongside Irish bands Amble, BIIRD, Beoga and Aaron Rowe in the Sky and The Ground pub on Tuesday night, as part of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

Brought up in Suffolk, the Galway Girl singer's dad hails from Belfast, and in June Sheeran announced that he identifies culturally as Irish.

Sheeran also made sure fans who couldn't get make inside the pub didn't miss out, as he made his way outside to perform an acoustic rendition of his hit single Perfect.

Sheeran and all-female trad supergroup BIIRD performed traditional folk song Wild Mountain Thyme together.

The crowd sang along as Ed Sheeran played the guitar, accompanied by the other artists on violin and the bodhrán - a traditional Irish frame drum.

Wild Mountain Thyme is a Scottish and Irish folk song which was first recorded in 1957 and has been performed by many people.

Irish folk band Amble joined BIIRD and Sheeran to perform folk song Raglan Road to the crowd of enthusiastic Fleadh-goers.

The performance of Raglan Road was no different, with everyone singing together as the violin, accordion and guitar were played while the musicians stood in a circle at the pub.

On Raglan Road was originally written by Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh and it was brought to musical life and made famous by The Dubliners.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is the world's largest annual festival of Irish music.

It hosts street performers, intimate concerts, big-name acts and over 150 competitions showcasing the best of traditional music talent.