Carlow man receives presidential recognition for Grammy academy achievement

A CARLOW native has been commended by President Michael D Higgins for his groundbreaking achievement in becoming a voting member of the Recording Academy, the organisation behind the prestigious Grammy Awards.

Brian Sheil received a letter from Áras an Uachtaráin in September recognising him as Carlow’s first voting member of the Recording Academy, the highest tier of membership within the organisation. President Higgins also praised Mr Sheil’s ongoing research into synthetic media and the ethics of, and influence on, the creative and technological communities.

In his letter, the outgoing president highlighted the importance of Irish voices in shaping global discussions about authenticity, innovation and the responsible use of AI in music and media, commending Brian for representing Carlow on the international stage.

“I couldn’t believe it in September when I received from Áras an Uachtaráin heartfelt congratulations on joining the Recording Academy as Carlow’s first voting member, and also on some of the important research work I continue to do post-Masters into synthetic media,” said Brian. “It’s a real honour and something I’ll never forget.” Reflecting on his first year as a voting member, Brian recalled his childhood dreams: “I remember watching the Grammys as a kid in my playroom in Woodgrove, completely mesmerised by the performances and wondering what it would be like to have a say in who actually won. Fast forward to now, sitting there, casting my votes in major categories like Record of the Year and Album of the Year, it’s genuinely surreal. To go from dreaming about it as a kid to having a voice in the process is something I’ll always cherish and look forward to every year.” As part of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Recording Academy, Brian and several of his colleagues recently met with Congressman Brad Sherman to advocate for the No Fakes Act, proposed US legislation that would protect artists from unauthorised use of their likeness or voice through AI and synthetic media.

This advocacy ties directly to President Higgins’ recognition of Brian’s work, which explores how emerging technologies like AI can be used ethically while ensuring the rights and voices of creators are respected.

“Being part of the Recording Academy is an incredible opportunity not only to celebrate music but also to help shape the conversations around technology and creativity, and having the outgoing President of Ireland’s encouragement and support has given and continues to give me impetus to continue on this journey,” Brian said. “To be the first to represent Carlow in this space is something I’m really proud of.”​​​​​​​​​​​