"Amazing" Irish sound engineer plays major role in two Grammy wins

Ruairi O’Flaherty is a senior mastering engineer at the acclaimed Sterling Sound studio in the US. His work helped Lamar scoop Best Rap Album for GNX, while the rapper’s song "Luther" claimed Record of the Year.

O’Flaherty had also worked on a second album nominated for a Grammy this year, "Man’s Best Friend" by Sabrina Carpenter, and was associated with Carpenter’s nomination for record of the year for "Manchild".

The glamour and the glory of Grammy’s night in LA on Sunday night must have seemed a lifetime away from O’Flaherty’s horrendous experience in January 2025, when his family home was destroyed by wildfire.

He, along with his wife, Sidney Pogatchnik, and their two daughters, Mirabel and Ellie, had to rebuild their lives after the fire, which began on the evening of January 7 and burned for 24 days. It began in Eaton Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains, and was driven by wind into foothill communities, killing at least 19 people and destroying more than 9,000 buildings.

A family friend, Graham Cruser Marsh, set up a GoFundMe appeal that raised $113,000 (€95,000) to help them, saying they are the ‘kindest and most selfless family’ he knows and that they had lost everything in the fire.

Ruairi O’Flaherty and his family. (Via GoFundMe)

 He added, "Ruairi is an amazing mastering engineer who has helped countless engineers, producers, and audio companies around the globe for the past three decades.

"He is looked up to as one of the most thoughtful and talented humans in the audio industry. I hope that by making this family a GoFundMe, we can help lift them up so they can secure new housing, living essentials, and cover the necessary expenses they will need to rebuild their home and life.

"Anyone that knows Ruairi and Sidney, knows that they would never ask for anything. I’m asking for all the help from the community, friends, producers, artists, and collaborators to come together in this time of need."

O’Flaherty, originally from Coolgrean Park in Killarney, has mastered music for a wide range of internationally renowned artists, including Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X and Doja Cat.

Other Irish hopefuls at the 2026 Grammys included Cork’s Elaine Kelly, who was nominated for a best opera recording award for Emma O’Halloran’s opera double bill, Trade/Mary Motorhead. But it wasn’t to be, as the award went to "Heggie: Intelligence" by conductor Kwamé Ryan.

Also nominated was Dublin composer Donnacha Dennehy, under the best contemporary classical composition for "Dennehy: Land of Winter".

* This article was originally published on Evoke.ie.