'Amazing' that Ed Sheeran's foundation expanding to island of Ireland

The musician Ed Sheeran is to expand his foundation's work into the island of Ireland.

The Ed Sheeran Foundation is initially funding North South Sounds 2026, which is bringing 50 young musicians from Belfast and Cork together.

Young people aged 13-17 from the Oh Yeah Centre in Belfast have worked alongside young people from Music Generation in Cork.

They are due to perform gigs at the Oh Yeah Centre and City Hall during Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann on Monday. The youth engagement manager at Oh Yeah, Chelsea Andrews said it was "amazing" that Sheeran was backing grassroots music in the cities.

Sheeran has previously spoken about the importance of support from his school music teacher when he was starting out.

His foundation is aims to support the teaching of music and increase opportunities for young musicians.

The singer-songwriter's father is from Belfast.

Sheeran previously visited the city to meet young rappers and performers after the launch of his foundation in the rest of the UK.

But he is now formally expanding its work into Northern Ireland and Ireland by funding North South Sounds 2026.

In a statement to BBC News NI, Sheeran said that Ireland was a "special" place for him.

"Every child should have the opportunity to learn and take part in music, and we're continuing our work to help make that a reality," Sheeran said.

"The first project kicks off at the Fleadh on Monday," he said.

"I played the festival last year and have such fond memories of it. If you're there, go and check out some of the incredible young talent."

Sheeran played a surprise gig in a pub during the 2025 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Wexford.

Chelsea Andrews, who is also a singer and guitarist with the band GUSH, welcomed the move.

"A lot of musicians, no matter how good they are, we all experience that little bit of self-doubt sometimes," she said.

"So to have that other person, whether it be an unofficial mentor or a peer inspire you and encourage you and motivate you is really, really important."

She said there was a lot of excitement, and a little trepidation, about the Fleadh gig.

"Initially, it was 'Oh my goodness, this is so exciting,'"

"And then the realisation of 'Oh my goodness, this is a really big deal!'"

"But we are going to have them well prepared."

Avery, 15, and 14-year-old Manas and their band The Ladies-Men have been rehearsing at the Oh Yeah centre as part of North South Sounds 2026.

Avery said that working on songs with young musicians from Kabin Studio and Creative Tradition in Cork had been a real partnership.

"We were playing instruments, they were rapping and playing their instruments," she said.

"It's been absolutely great, I've been able to meet new friends, new people, have better experiences."

"I got connected to the Oh Yeah centre because of playing music as well."

Manas said that getting support and encouragement was "vital" for a young musician.

"If we don't have at least one person saying 'go, do it, try it,' then we're not," he said.

"If it weren't for my parents, my teachers, the Oh Yeah Centre then I would never have really got involved in music or I would have just sat in my bedroom playing guitar on my own."

Musician Cheylene Murphy from the band Beauty Sleep has been leading the workshops with young people in Belfast.

"We've been getting them to improvise music together, they all met each other for the first time on Monday, we've been putting them in bands, we've been getting them to write new music based on a theme of what is Irish music to them?" she said.

"They're from lots of different genres and lots of different backgrounds and ranges.

"We've been trying to give them some performance advice and music industry advice, and every day we say 'How was today? What did you like? What didn't you like? What do you want to do tomorrow?

"After every day I go home and see if I can figure out a timetable to make that happen for them."

The Future Sounds of Belfast Showcase takes place at the Oh Yeah Centre on Monday 3 August from 14:00 BST.