Ed Sheeran's nan who inspired his hit 2017 song Nancy Mulligan has died. 

Anne Mary, also known as Nancy, died peacefully at Castle Gardens Nursing Home in Enniscorthy last Tuesday. 

She was the inspiration behind the hit single which featured on Sheeran's album Divide. 

The song, which is one of the Suffolk-based artist's most personal, tells the story of how his grandparents met and fell in love during the Second World War. 

Sheeran's grandmother will be laid to rest on Wednesday after a funeral in St Patrick’s Church, Monaseed, Gorey. 

A family death notice reads: "Anne Mary Sheeran died April 25 peacefully at Castle Gardens Nursing Home Enniscorthy.

"Beloved wife of the late Bill and loving mother of Jim, Bill, Peter, Chris, John, MaryAnne, Bridget and the late Sally and sister of the late Thomas, Jim, May and Peggy. Deeply regretted by her loving sons, daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, niece, nephews, relatives, friends and neighbours. 

"May She Rest In Peace."

Last week Sheeran appeared in court at the start of a copyright lawsuit over his track Thinking Out Loud. 

The Framlingham-based singer has been accused of taking key parts from Marvin Gaye's soul classic Let's Get It On for his 2014 hit.

At the beginning of the trial in New York, Sheeran said he was adamant that he had come up with the song himself.