The music tutor of three young boys – two of whom attend Newry’s St Colman’s College – who have been gifted with signed guitars from best-selling artist Ed Sheeran has delightedly explained the background to the story in what she describes as a “wonderful musical journey”.
Tutor Mona Owens said that around a year-and-a-half ago she had seen an article in her local paper, The Mourne Observer, about a new business relationship between renowned Downpatrick Luthier, George Lowden and global singing sensation, Ed Sheeran.
The pair had began working together to create the Sheeran by Lowden guitar… and it gave her an idea.
Mona wrote a letter to George with a simple request. She said: “I wanted to ask him if he would donate a guitar if I was to put my children to a guitar competition.”
The passionate guitar maker replied saying he would be “delighted to offer one guitar as a prize”, said Mona.
She continued: “Whenever that competition came to pass, two adjudicators judged it. One was Dr Finbar McGratty and the other was a past pupil of mine from Sacred Heart in Dundrum, Eoin Flynn.”
After diligently making their way through countless video tapes, Finbar and Eoin selected the winner… young Padraig O’Hagan, from Leitrim.
Of Padraig, Mona said: “He was a left handed guitar player and he was given the only left handed Sheeran by Lowden model that George had to go and make especially for him, so it’s the only one in the world!
“When I went to collect the guitar I told him the other two wee boys came in second. He went and phoned Ed and the two then decided to award the other two boys with a guitar each as well.”
And this was only the start! Mona says the children have been on a “wonderful musical journey” since then… but it was always her wish for them to meet Ed Sheeran in the flesh.
Said Mona: “I contacted George and – to cut a long story short – George sent an email to Ed and within half an hour he wrote back to him to invite George, myself and the three boys and their parents to the night in Dublin 3Arena.”
Sheeran had played to a sold 3Arena on December 9 as part of his 2025 European “Play / Loop” tour, where the group were given exclusive meet and greet passes!
“When we arrived Ed presented the children with an upgraded model of a new guitar by Lowden each,” said Mona. “I just can’t believe the musical journey that they have been on and they are ecstatic. It’s absolutely wonderful.”
The two runners-up Padraig and Cuan both attend St Colman’s College Newry, where Mona has now been invited tomorrow (December 12) to do an interview with UTV.
She said: “I hope that will go down well! Whenever they went to the competition I taught them the song ‘Perfect’ because it was Ed Sheeran’s best selling song… so I think they will be doing that tomorrow.”
Wanting to pass on her sincerest thanks to all those involved in helping to make the boys’ dreams come true, she said: “This just hasn’t happened, it’s been a process. The adjudicators have been such a big process of this; only for them choosing them, it wouldn’t have happened and to George as well who responded to my email which started everything.”
Sharing their delight for the two music fans, St Colman’s College shared on social media: “What an exciting evening for St Colman’s College pupils Pádraig and Cuan!
“Our two Junior pupils met Ed Sheeran and came home with signed guitars!
“It feels like Christmas has arrived early for these great young Violet Hill men.
“We can’t wait to hear the songs you’ll create with your new guitars!”
