Róis

Róis
Born
Rose Connolly

1999/2000
County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
Genres
[1][2]
OccupationsSinger-songwriter, composer
Years active2019–present
Websiteroismusic.ie

Rose Connolly (born 1999/2000),[2] known mononymously as Róis ([ɾˠoːʃ] ROE-sh, lit. 'rose', often capitalised RÓIS) is a composer, singer and multi-instrumentalist from County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.[3] She is known for singing in a keening (Irish: caoineadh) style, a traditional Irish lament.[2]

Early life

Róis was raised in Newtownbutler, a village in the south-east of County Fermanagh.[2][4] She grew up around Irish traditional music in her family; her grandfather played the bagpipes and her father played the accordion. Her older brothers introduced her to electronic and alternative music as a child, including Daft Punk and Nirvana.[5] She later studied music at the Royal Irish Academy of Music[5] and the Royal Conservatory of The Hague.[6]

Career

Róis' first album was Uisce agus Bean (lit. 'Water and woman'), released in 2023.[1][7] She cites Meredith Monk, Marina Herlop, Daniela Lalita and Hatis Noit as inspirations.[6][8]

Her second album Mo Léan (lit. 'My sorrow') was released in 2024 and was nominated for the Choice Music Prize. The Guardian gave it four stars out of five, saying that "Connolly fills [keening] with new, startling life, mixing the ancient with synthesis, distortion and drones."[9]

Personal life

Róis did not grow up speaking Irish, and began learning the language while studying at the Hague Conservatory. Upon returning to Ireland, she intensified her study of Irish, and uses it in her daily life. In 2024 she stated "someday I would like to live my life completely through Irish, especially when creating art."[6]

Róis is based in Belfast.[2]

Discography

EPs

  • Uisce agus Bean (2023)
  • Mo Léan (2024)

Singles

  • "Caoine" (2024)
  • "Feel Love" (2024)

Awards and nominations

List of award nominations, with the year of ceremony, recipient(s), category, and result
Award Year Recipient(s) Category Result Ref.
Choice Music Prize 2024 Mo Léan Irish Album of the Year Shortlist [10]
RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards 2025 "Caoine" Best Original Folk Track Won [3]
Róis Best Emerging Artist Won [3]

References

  1. ^ a b Long, Siobhán (25 February 2025). "RTÉ Folk Awards 2025: The freewheeling spirit at the heart of Ireland's trad resurgence". The Irish Times.
  2. ^ a b c d e Murphy, Lauren (2 March 2025). "The masked singer who has revived the pagan tradition of keening". The Times.
  3. ^ a b c Guillot, Jaime (27 February 2025). "RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards 2025: RÓIS, John Spillane and Landless among the winners". Hot Press.
  4. ^ O'Sullivan, Eoghan (5 March 2025). "Fontaines DC, Kneecap or a surprise? Choice Music Prize Irish album of the year nominees profiled". Irish Examiner.
  5. ^ a b "Róis: 'Moving away from Ireland shook me. Going away is essential'". The Irish Times. 13 June 2025.
  6. ^ a b c McCann, Ruairi (10 October 2024). "Singing And Dying Is What We Are Born For: An Interview With RÓIS". The Thin Air.
  7. ^ Byrne, Niall (11 September 2024). "Róis blends sean-nós, folk, experimental sounds on the darkly stunning 'Caoine'". Nialler9.
  8. ^ Corr, Alan (15 September 2024). "Behind the music: Róis". RTÉ.
  9. ^ Rogers, Jude (18 October 2024). "Róis: Mo Léan review – ancient keening songs filled with startling new life". The Guardian.
  10. ^ "2024 Album of the Year Shortlist". RTÉ Choice Music Prize. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
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