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

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. 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.