'You’re narrating someone’s story, and that’s a privilege'... Former Eurovision star and Trim musician's new role

Now officially qualified as a legal wedding celebrant and solemniser, Kim Jackson Grant career path has taken another extraordinary twist. Having represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 1991 in Rome to touring Europe as a professional musician, she then established her own hugely successful music school. Now, she tells Sally Harding, she's loving life as a celebrant and being part of everything from weddings to baby naming ceremonies, funerals and even adoption ceremonies.

A TRIM-based musician who represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 1991 in Rome, finishing in a joint 10th place has embarked on a new chapter in her career, becoming a fully qualified legal wedding celebrant and solemniser while continuing to run her thriving music school in the town.

“It’s just something that really boosts me,” Kim Jackson Grant said of her new role. “I’ve always been a people person, and where else are you going to meet people at their happiest and at their best?”

Her journey in music began at an early age, rooted firmly in family influence and a natural love of performance. “I have been singing from about the age of nine,” she explained. “My mother was a professional singer, so I just followed into the business.”

Growing up in that environment meant that music was never just a hobby—it was a way of life. From early rehearsals to live performances, Kim quickly developed the confidence and discipline required to succeed in what is often a demanding and unpredictable industry. Over time, those early experiences would lay the foundation for a career that would span decades.

That early start led to a lifelong career performing across Ireland and Europe, and ultimately to the Eurovision stage. But her first taste of the contest actually came a year earlier, when she was selected as a backing singer for Liam Reilly of Bagatelle fame.

“That came about because I was on the scene—you meet musicians, you meet bands,” she said. “Liam was looking for a couple of backing singers for Eurovision in 1990, and I got the call.”

She travelled with the Irish team to what was then Yugoslavia, where Ireland achieved an impressive second-place finish. The experience proved invaluable, offering a behind-the-scenes insight into one of the world’s most watched music events.

“We went off with the Irish team and it was just incredible,” she said. “It was my first real taste of that level of performance, and everything that goes with it.”

Following that Eurovision appearance, she remained closely involved in the music scene at a professional level. “After that, I stayed on with his band and we toured around Ireland and Europe,” she said. “It was a full year of performing, travelling, and just gaining experience.”

Touring life brought its own challenges and rewards, from long journeys to late nights, but it also helped to sharpen Kim's skills as a performer. It was during this period that she continued to build her reputation within the industry, establishing herself as both a vocalist and a reliable professional.

That experience proved to be a turning point. “Liam very kindly told me during that year that he was going to write a song for me for Eurovision,” she said.

The following year, she found herself centre stage representing Ireland at Eurovision in Rome with the song " Could it Be that I'm in Love" —an experience she describes as unforgettable. “It was absolutely nerve-wracking but fantastic… a whirlwind of a week rehearsing and receptions and everything like that.”

The scale of the event, from international media attention to the intensity of rehearsals, left a lasting impression. Yet despite the pressure, the Trim performer approached the performance with a calm and grounded outlook.

“I think when I heard all the rehearsals, I kind of rated my own song a little bit down the list,” she said. “So I just thought, I’ll go out and do my best—and that’s what I did.”

That attitude allowed her to perform with confidence, delivering a strong showing on the night. Ireland ultimately finished in joint 10th place alongside the United Kingdom, a result she looks back on with pride.

“There were so many people watching, both in the stadium and around the world,” she said. “It was an amazing experience to be part of.”

Following Eurovision, she returned to the reality of working life as a professional musician. Like many performers, she balanced creative ambitions with the practicalities of earning a living.

“If you don’t win, you just go back to reality,” she said. “I went back to my normal gigs—corporate work, weddings, party bands—that’s your bread and butter.”

Those years were marked by consistency and hard work. Performing regularly across a wide range of events, she remained a familiar figure within the Irish music scene. After decades on stage, however, she made the decision in 2010 to step away from live performance. “I decided to hang up the microphone and retire from performing,” she said. “It just felt like the right time.”

That decision coincided with the opening of the Royal County School of Music in Trim, a move that allowed her to channel her experience into teaching the next generation.

“I opened the school and that’s what I’ve been doing ever since,” she said. “I teach piano and singing, and it’s been incredible to watch it grow.”

The school has gone from strength to strength and now operates at full capacity, reflecting both the demand for music education in the area and the reputation she has built as a teacher.

Working with students of all ages, she has developed a strong connection with the local community. The transition from performer to educator, she says, felt natural.

“You’re still working with people, you’re still using music—it’s just a different way of doing it,” she said.

Her retirement from performance was marked with a special final concert—“A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald”—held in St Paul’s Cathedral in Trim. The event was a sell-out, bringing together friends, supporters, and music lovers for one final performance.

“It was a lovely way to finish,” she said. “A real celebration of everything that had come before.”

For more than a decade, her focus remained firmly on the music school. But in recent months, a new opportunity began to take shape—one that would once again allow her to step into a public-facing role.

“I think sometimes creative people just get the itch to do something new,” she said. “It just came to me, really.”

After meeting others working as celebrants, she began to explore the idea more seriously. “It sounded like a very interesting later-life career,” she said.

She enrolled in a training programme and completed the course over eight months, immersing herself in every aspect of the profession.

“They cover everything—legal aspects, how to conduct a ceremony, how to deal with people, how to run a business,” she said. “There’s so much involved.”

The training also introduced her to new skills, particularly in writing and storytelling. “You’re creating ceremonies for people, so you have to be able to write their story,” she said. “That’s something I’ve really enjoyed.”

Now officially qualified as a legal wedding celebrant and solemniser, she is already building momentum in this new field. “I’ve already got four weddings in the books,” she said. “I’m absolutely thrilled.”

While weddings form a central part of the role, she is keen to emphasise its wider scope. “You’d be surprised—it’s not just weddings,” she said. “You can do baby naming ceremonies, funerals, adoption ceremonies—there’s so much variety.”For her, the role is about connection and trust. “It’s an honour to be part of something like that,” she said. “You’re part of a couple’s history forevermore.”

She also highlighted the importance of sensitivity, particularly in more emotional ceremonies. “With funerals, you’re telling someone’s life story,” she said. “You want to do that properly, with respect.”

The writing element continues to be one of the most rewarding aspects. “You become a bit of an author. You’re narrating someone’s story, and that’s a privilege.”Looking back across her career, she sees this latest move as a natural progression rather than a departure.

“For a performer, it feels like a natural next step,” she said. “You’re still standing up in front of people, but now it’s about something even more meaningful.”

With her music school continuing to thrive and a new career now underway, she says she is simply enjoying the journey.

“I’m really, really enjoying it so far,” she added.