Ed Sheeran meets Cavan's concertina queen

Ed Sheeran got the opportunity to perform alongside Cavan's own concertina queen Zoran Donohoe when the global superstar delighted fans with an appearance at the All Ireland Fleadh in Wexford last week.

Zoran, a member of the 11 member all-female ensemble BIIRD, is the daughter of local accordion player Martin Donohoe. She shared the floor with chart-topping singer-songwriter Sheeran when he joined BIIRD and other Irish acts Amble, Beoga, and Aaron Rowe at The Sky and The Ground pub.

Raised in Suffolk but with established Belfast roots and a grandmother from Gorey, Sheeran identifies as Irish culturally.

In the midst of his European Mathematics tour, he flew over to visit the Fleadh where he delivered hits like 'Castle on the Hill' and 'Perfect', which he also performed acoustically outside the packed venue for fans who couldn’t get in.

A highlight for the lucky few inside was Sheeran accompanying trad supergroup BIIRD on 'Wild Mountain Thyme', followed by a stirring group performance of 'The Parting Glass'.

The link up is reminiscent, although much less impromptu, to when Scottish musician Lewis Capaldi sidled up alongside Ballyconnell performer Shane Carroll as he busked the streets at the Mullingar fleadh in 2022 and joined him for a few bars before heading off again with former One Direction member Niall Horan.

Spotlight

BIIRD members were informed of the Sheeran gig just days before, after coming off stage at the All Together Now festival in neighbouring Waterford where the band performed to an enrapt audience of thousands.

“We were on such a high from that and then to be told about [Sheeran] as well. He was so lovely. He saw Lisa [Canny] wearing a BIIRD jersey and said he'd love one. He put it on straight away and then went and did loads of interviews wearing it,” she laughs.

The excitement didn't end there for Zoran or her bandmates, who were whisked away the following morning for a Culture Ireland photoshoot, before then travelling to perform at the wedding of Derry Girl's actress Saoirse-Monica Jackson at the weekend.

When the Celt caught up with Zoran on Monday she'd only just landed in Belfast where he now lives.

For a girl who started playing concertina age six, and grew up around trad and the buzz of the fleadh, reflecting on the whirlwind past week Zoran firmly believes Irish music and culture is “having its moment”.

“I don't know what's going on. Interest in the Irish language as well. I'm living in Belfast and there are classes taking place all the time,” she says, crediting fellow Irish act Kneecap and others for the role they've played.

With pride in her voice Zoran is particularly encouraged that this “new wave” of interest in Irish culture is being driven by younger generations, and says it bodes well for the future of music and language.

“[Kneecap] are making it cool again [to speak Irish]. Trad is cool again. It's great. I spent my childhood at the fleadh, usually sitting in the same pub playing tunes for the week. So coming in and people knowing who I am was all a bit mad,” says Zoran, who stepped out to play music full time now.

“I actually can't believe it. Such a thing you never believed could happen, and not with the likes of trad, but we're in the middle of something really special right now.”

Budding performer

The younger generation is perhaps best represented by the likes of Cavan born Séamie Séan Ó Braonáin, who became the breakout star of last Thursday’s Fleadh25 live broadcast on TG4.

Son of renowned Kíla musician Seanan Brennan and musician/actress Fiona Maria Fitzpatrick, the six year old has been immersed in music from birth and singing since he was two years old.

The budding performer with a love for cowboy films, a sharp eye for dapper suits, a treasured 37-year-old vintage donkey, dreams of one day becoming an actor himself.

Now living in Co Donegal, last year, he began learning to sing and play the fiddle with Comhaltas Phil Rooney Branch Ballyshannon. His golden moment came when presenter Aoife Ní Thuairisg spotted him backstage waiting to watch his dad. She invited him on stage, and with that he won the hearts of the nation.

Earlier, he had told Aoife he planned to busk to save for the very suit he was wearing, one he had his eye on in Carrick-on-Shannon. His mother Fiona agreed he could have it if he raised the money himself, and he did.

Proud

There was a special moment too for local musical director Sue Donohoe, a native of Enniscorthy, who led members of Cavan Sinfonia Orchestra and friends, including Liz Ryan, Colm Tiernaigh and others, in a hugely well-received concert on the main gig rig on Friday afternoon.

Being from Wexford she says it was a “really proud moment” for her to lead performance like that.

“Absolutely super,” adds Sue, whose cousin Aileen Donohoe sang 'Cavan Girl' using an arrangement provided by Eileen Tackney, who also arranged two other sets for Sue on the day.

Sue's son Chrisopher King then played solo on the French Horn as part of a stirring rendition of Mise Éire.

Lastly but certainly not least, Sergeant Elaine Long showed everyone how it's done at Fleadh Cheoil when a video of her dancing in the street went viral, capturing more close to 50,000 views online just hours after it was posted.

A member of the Community Policing Team, the Killeshandra woman is attached to Kells Garda Station.

During Covid, another video of Sgt Long playing the fiddle as residents at St Colmcille's nursing home sang was equally well received online.