Singer Ed Sheeran 'falls for old Fade Street pal Louise'
Ed Sheeran and Louise Johnston are now an item
Louise Johnston has been a long-term friend of Ed Sheeran's
Ed Sheeran and Louise Johnston are now an item
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He'll be coming to Dublin this month to play his first ever gig in Croke Park but it seems Ed Sheeran has more reasons to spend time on Irish shores as he is linked to an Irish reality star.
The flame-haired singer (24) is reportedly romancing former Fade Street cast member Louise Johnston.
A source close to Louise, who now works as a brand and events manager for popular website Lovin Dublin, revealed that after being friends for years, the pair have now taken their relationship to the next level.
"Louise and Ed have been friends for years but now they have become a lot closer than that," they said.
"They are constantly in touch, even when he is on his world tour but he is coming here soon for a gig in Dublin and they will be able to catch up.
"Friends and family now know so it really is out there. Louise really cares about him and it's going very well."
Sheeran, who has Irish grandparents, has been linked to a number of high profile stars, including Taylor Swift and Ellie Goulding.
The British musician was in a relationship with Athina Andrelos for almost a year before the pair called it quits.
In March, Ed confirmed he was back on the market during an interview with an Australian radio station.
Since starring in Fade Street, Louise has been keeping a low profile in terms of her personal life.
"The fact that Louise isn't a big star is helping things move along nicely and she is different to some of the girls he has been linked to," the source told the Sunday Independent.
FRIENDSHIP
"Their friendship has built up over the years too so it's not as if Louise is a starry-eyed girl. She knows him well and she knows the real Ed long before he was selling out stadiums."
Louise, who has worked with brands such as Bacardi and Red Bull, has been single for over a year since splitting with Darren O'Reilly early in 2014.
The blonde was in a relationship with O'Reilly, who is a close friend of Irish rugby star Fergus McFadden, for two years before amicably deciding to go their separate ways.
As well as being romantically linked with rugby stars Luke Fitzgerald and Cian Healy, Louise also dated her former Fade Street co-star Harry McCreery in 2012.
Since their split, Harry has hooked up with Assets model Lisa Nolan.
While things are looking up for Ed on the romantic front, July looks to be a big month for him.
The Thinking Out Loud singer will play three sold-out gigs at London's Wembley Arena this weekend, before jetting into Ireland to play to crowds in Croke Park on July 24 and 25.
The tickets for Sheeran's hotly-anticipated Irish gig were snapped up within less than an hour of going on sale.
ICONIC
Despite Ed's popularity, concert promoter Peter Aiken insisted there was no chance of putting on another gig at the iconic stadium.
Along with The Script's recent gig there, Ed's show will have used up the allotted three concerts a year allowed at the venue.
"[Ed's ticket sales have been] unbelieveable. Here was a kid I saw when he was about 19 in Vicar Street, when we sold 1,000 tickets," Aiken said after the show sold out.
"He was a nice kid, but I've met a lot of nice kids in my time and I would never have foreseen that, in a couple of years' time, he would sell 160,000 tickets in a hour for Croke Park.
"We could have done more Sheeran concerts but there won't be another show, there can't be," he said.