Ed Sheeran's "Galway Girl" Almost Had a Different Name: A Look at Its Irish Roots

Dublin, Ireland – Global music sensation Ed Sheeran recently made a surprising revelation during an interview on "The 2 Johnnies Podcast," disclosing that his popular song, "Galway Girl," almost had a different name. The acclaimed singer-songwriter shared that the track's title was nearly "Portlaoise Girl," among other Irish locales considered during its development. During the candid discussion, Sheeran elaborated on the creative process, stating, "We tried Sligo Girl, we tried Derry Girl... we tried Portlaoise Girl!" He explained that he was aware of Steve Earle's pre-existing song with the same title and, as a nod, often begins his live performances with Earle's version before transitioning into his own. Sheeran also touched upon the song's reception, noting its divisive nature. "That song's so polarizing... people love it or hate it!" he remarked. However, he highlighted a positive outcome, adding, "What I love about it as well is it's sort of, I meet kids now that have like got into the trad that wouldn't have been into trad by listening to that song. So it is kind of like a gateway to much more like wonderful music to discover, I think." This insight underscores the song's unexpected role in introducing traditional Irish music to a new generation.

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Ed Sheeran nearly named iconic song 'Portlaoise Girl'

Ed Sheeran has revealed that his iconic song Galway Girl nearly had a very different name.