Birr opera singer flies out to Los Angeles for Grammy Awards

BIRR opera singer John Molloy has flown out to Los Angeles for the Grammy Awards taking place this Sunday February 1st.

THERE was great pride in Birr and South Offaly when it was announced that John had been nominated for a Grammy.

There are various categories in the Grammys, including pop, rock, jazz and classical. Winning one of these prestigious awards can boost an artist's career, reputation, and record sales.

John has enjoyed a long and celebrated career on the national and international stage and a Grammy award could turbo-boost his career to even loftier heights. 

John is considered to be one of Ireland's leading Bass singers. His Grammy nomination comes on the foot of being one of the principal soloists in an opera double bill by acclaimed Athlone-born composer Emma O'Halloran.

The soundtrack for the new opera double bill 'Mary Motorhead/Trade' is one of five nominations in the Best Opera Recording category for the 2026 Grammys. This category awards Grammys to the conductor; producer; composer, director, principal soloists and librettist of what is described in the nomination criteria as “a world premiere opera recording."

John received his nomination for his powerful performance of the role of the Older Man in the operatic adaptation of an award-winnng play by Mark O'Halloran called 'Trade' which was subsequently made into a film 'Rialto.'

John said being nominated was a bolt from the blue. He said he thought it was “all a joke” when conductor Elaine Kelly video-called him and her first words were “Congratulations Grammy nominee.” He said he will be travelling to Los Angeles for the ceremony.

After getting the good news the cast and creative team of 'Mary Motorhead/Trade' organised a get-together to celebrate the fantastic news, and to make plans for their trip to Los Angeles.

John said his role in Trade was a very emotive one which had a lot of resonance with his own life story. “The opera double bill is just a fantastic body of work and when it was recorded live in Kilkenny I think we all knew there was just something very special about it,” he remarked.