The HomePlace Blog: A Celtic Soul: Sinéad Willox’s ‘Seoda Uladh – Jewels of Ulster’
Sinéad Willox is an Armagh-born folk singer with a distinctive voice, unique style and ability to weave story and song with natural affinity. A winner of multiple All-Ireland Oireachtas titles in duet and trio performance, Sinéad has been singing since childhood and brings both depth and versatility to her craft.
Alongside her music, she has a strong theatrical background, performing with the Bardic Theatre Donaghmore, the Portadown Phoenix Players, the Clonmore Players and the River Tall Theatre Company.
In 2019, Sinéad began performing as a solo artist. Her debut live performance, supporting John Spillane, was hailed by Tumble and Folk magazine as “a sublime act: often singing in her own accent, weaving story and song with natural affinity”. She is also a founding member of Copper Rose, a progressive five-piece folk band formed in 2023.
Most recently, Sinéad has recorded her debut solo album ‘Seoda Uladh’ (Jewels of Ulster), co-produced by Seán Óg Graham (Beoga) and released in 2025. To mark the album’s release, Sinéad is touring Ulster and we are delighted to welcome her to Seamus Heaney HomePlace on Saturday 14th February for a sold-out performance.
Sinéad was kind enough to answer a few questions for us, giving us a closer look at her album and her career:
Why have you waited so long to release your first solo album?
Good question! For me, it was all about timing. I’ve spent years involved in different projects — learning, performing, teaching and absorbing influences from other artists. I wanted this first solo album to feel mature and meaningful, not rushed. It took time to settle on the concept and a choice of songs which lend themselves to the emotional storytelling which I do best. I always consider authenticity to be the key to successful delivery. Jewels of Ulster feels truly authentic, like an arrival and a homecoming all at once!
Where did the idea for the theme of the album come from?
The concept grew out of my love for Ulster and its layered history. Having spent many years working away from home, I wanted to create something that felt like a musical map — each song representing a different county but together forming one cohesive story. The idea was to showcase the diversity of our traditions, accents and melodies, while weaving them together with my own arrangements and interpretations.
Traditional songs – one for each county – how did you choose?
It was an emotional process! Each county has countless songs with deep meaning, so I focused on finding pieces that spoke to me personally — songs where the melody or lyrics resonated with me, my own memories and experiences from those counties and their incredible landscapes. I also spoke with local singers and researchers to find lesser-known tunes. It became a journey of discovery where I balanced well-loved classics with hidden gems that I felt deserved a wider audience.
Many reviews describe the album as inspired by themes of home, heritage, and the voices that shape us — themes similar to those found in Seamus Heaney’s poetry. Do you identify with that comparison? Does his work inspire you?
Even a slight comparison with Seamus Heaney on any level fills me with pride. Seamus Heaney’s sense of place, identity and belonging is undeniable and permeates his writing. His poetry captures the quiet power of ordinary life — the land, the language, the people, and I try to approach music with that same reverence. Like Heaney, I think a lot about where we come from and who we become because of it. I often return to his poems for inspiration; they remind me that our stories, no matter how local, can speak to something universal.
