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'A dream come true' as sisters perform for Ed Sheeran

Mulholland Family Ed Sheeran poses for a picture with Molly and Ruby Mulholland. On the left hand side is the girls younger sister Daisy. All are smiling at the camera.Mulholland Family
Molly and Ruby Mulholland, alongside their younger sister Daisy, met Ed Sheeran during his trip to Belfast on Friday

Two County Antrim sisters, who performed for Ed Sheeran, said it was a complete surprise when the music superstar turned out to be their mystery audience.

Seventeen-year-old Molly and Ruby, who is 15, from Glengormley were among some of the lucky young people to meet Sheeran and Snow Patrol frontman, Gary Lightbody during a surprise visit to Belfast.

The singer-songwriter's visit to the city was part of the launch of the Ed Sheeran Foundation, which supports the teaching of music in schools.

It aims to improve access to music for young people by providing instruments and opportunities for performances.

On Thursday evening, The Mulholland Sisters got a phone call asking them to perform for some "very special guests" at the Oh Yeah Music Centre the next day.

It was business as usual for both girls on Friday, who attended school just before being brought to their surprise audience.

"We didn't know who they were going to be and we were just really excited," Molly told BBC News NI.

Bradley Quinn Gary Lightbody and Ed Sheeran at the Oh Yeah Music centre. Gary wears a khaki hoody, with a navy jacket over it and jeans. He has curly longish hair. Ed Sheeran has shaggy red hair and wears a black jumper with a colourful pineapple logo on it. They are standing on either side of a woman in a long black coat, black jumper and acorn necklace.Bradley Quinn
Gary Lightbody, left, joined Sheeran at the Oh Yeah Music centre

'I just couldn't believe it'

The surprise was only revealed as both musicians walked into the room during the girls' performance.

Ruby said she "couldn't believe it" when she found out.

"It was just nice because they just stood there and smiled at us and were nodding their heads at us," she said.

"I wasn't really nervous singing because they were so relaxed and it was fine."

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The sisters, who have been performing around Northern Ireland as a duo for a number of years, decided to sing the chart-topping Stick Season by US singer Noah Kahan.

"We didn't know who it was going to be at all, so we chose some of our best songs from busking that we like to play," Molly added.

Their choice only came to them an hour before the pop stars came into the room.

"We just chose Stick Season because we just love it," Molly said.

Sheeran visited a number of music organisations across Belfast on Friday which his foundation will provide support to.

They include the Oh Yeah Music Centre, which was co-founded by Lightbody, Hotbox Entertainment, which works with young musicians and rappers from its studio in west Belfast and Drake Music NI, a charity which helps adults and children of all abilities make music.

Bradley Quinn Ed Sheeran stands at the back of a large crowd and smiles while he poses with young people. On the right hand side is Gary Lightbody. Eight other young people in the room, including Ruby and Molly holding guitars in the front row, are smiling at the camera.Bradley Quinn
Young musicians supported by the Oh Yeah Music Centre rubbed shoulders with Sheeran and Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody

Ruby said that after the performance, both Sheeran and Lightbody shook their hands and signed their guitar.

"They were really, really nice and passionate about music," Molly added.

"They asked us about how long we've been playing music for and why we really enjoy it so it was really nice."

The sisters' are now preparing for their next big gig - Future Talent, which showcases a number of up-and-coming young talent across the island of Ireland - in Belfast's Grand Opera House next month.

'Just a dream come true'

Molly and Ruby's mum Tracy Mulholland said details about the visit were kept "hush hush", and that no one had a clue who the special guests would be.

"It was really amazing for them, just a dream come true," she said.

"We couldn't believe it, none of us could, we were just blown away by it all."

She said that the whole family is "really behind them", and were blown away by their superstar audience.

"It doesn't feel real - it was fantastic for them," she added.

"[It] was just a normal school day, and then picked them up straight after and got changed on the way - the life of a rock star."