The English-born Ed Sheeran has said he considers himself culturally Irish, despite growing up in Suffolk.

Speaking on The Louis Theroux Podcast, the 34-year-old singer-songwriter explained that his strong Irish roots, particularly on his father’s side, shaped his identity from a young age.

"We’d spend all of our holidays in Ireland. My first musical experiences were in Ireland... so I identify culturally as Irish," he said. Sheeran also described Ireland as his "second home musically."

That connection to Ireland began early. In 2004, a 13-year-old Sheeran attended a Damien Rice gig at Whelan’s in Dublin with his dad, a turning point he has often described as his musical awakening.

Inspired by Rice’s solo performance, Sheeran returned home and wrote his first six songs that night.

In a 2018 interview, before a string of shows in Croke Park, Sheeran spoke to Hot Press' Stuart Clark and told him about his connection to Ireland, particularly when it came to his late Irish grandmother.

"Whenever I come to Ireland I just want to spend as much time with her as possible," he explained to Clark at the time, "Ireland is more about catching up with family, cups of tea and things like that.

"I was brought up on Irish music," Sheeran said, "I’ve listened to a whole bunch of it and it’s definitely been an influence."

The interview was first published in a 2018 issue featuring a cover with a young Ed Sheeran.