'Something you never imagine': Carlow man represents county at 68th GRAMMY Awards ceremony

A man from Carlow represented the county at the GRAMMY Awards last weekend, marking a major career milestone for the producer. 

Brian Sheil was an official GRAMMY Voting Member at the 68th annual Awards ceremony. 

"It’s hard to put into words. I started out just trying to make records sound better in small rooms back home, and now I’m part of the process that recognises the best music in the world. It’s a huge honour to represent where I’m from on a global stage," he said. 

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Brian has spent several years building a strong reputation as a producer and mixer, working behind the scenes to help artists shape their final sound. 

He grew up in Carlow and can still remember the first time he watched the Awards for the first time, at the age of just 10-years-old. 

"I wanted to be there one day and 25 years later, you’re no longer watching - you’re in the room. When you’re just a kid from Woodgrove cycling around the block with Celine Dion playing on your headphones, it’s something you never imagine happening," Brian said. 

As a GRAMMY Voting Member, Brian took part in the nomination and final voting process leading up to this year’s 68th GRAMMY Awards, helping decide both the nominees and winners across major categories, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year, as well as a range of genre-specific awards.

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His involvement formed part of the peer-led process that recognises excellence in recorded music worldwide.

Brian said some of his personal highlights from the night included standout performances from Bruno Mars and British soul artist Olivia Dean, as well as witnessing Tyla’s emotional reaction in the foyer when she realised she had won earlier during the Premiere Ceremony.

He also praised GRAMMY Week events, describing the chance to see Afrobeats artists perform live as "incredible" and a reflection of the genre’s growing global influence.

The milestone marks another significant step in a career that continues to bridge strong Irish roots with an expanding international reach, marking a historic first for Carlow at the GRAMMY Awards.