'I have an Irish passport' - Ed Sheeran doubles down on Irish identity comments

Pop sensation Ed Sheeran recently made an appearance on The Louis Theroux Podcast where he told listeners that he classifies himself culturally as Irish.

Despite being born and raised in The UK, Ed Sheeran said that his dad is Irish and he would often visit his dad's side of the family on summer holidays.

"I class my culture as Irish. I think that's what I grew up with....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," Ed Sheeran said on the podcast.

"I’d say it’s basically my second home musically. I’d say Ireland is the place that I am most successful musically," he added.

Following the podcast, Ed Sheeran has released a statement on Instagram doubling down on what he said on the podcast.

The Galway Girl singer said: "for anyone with an opinion after what I said about my heritage on the podcast...my dad is Irish. My family is Irish. I have an Irish passport. The culture I was brought up around was Irish. Just because I was born somewhere else doesn't change my culture. I can be allowed to feel connection to a place half of my family is from."

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