Cara Dillon has done for Irish folk what Seth Lakeman did in England — she has made it cool and sexy.

Forget notions of 'twiddle-de-dee' reels and stiff Riverdance-style prancing around; this is gorgeous stuff.

Cara's voice is hauntingly beautiful and her lyrics poignant — with emotive retellings of the roots music of her native County Derry.

A huge favourite among folk aficionados, Cara has delighted fans with an imminent new album, the release of a DVD (The Redcastle Sessions filmed in neighbouring Donegal), and now a tour, which next Friday reaches Oxford, with a show at the Carling Academy.

The tour follows an extended career break due to the birth of her twin sons Colm and Noah — the pair arrived prematurely in November 2006, after Cara went into labour while playing a gig on stage in Swindon!

And she admits she and pianist husband Sam Lakeman (brother of the aforementioned Seth) are glad to be playing live again — without the drama.

"I took a long break," she says, while relaxing at her home near Frome in Somerset.

"The twins came at 26 weeks, which is very early, and they were in hospital for three weeks as they weren't very well.

"Everything went on the back burner. Music was the last thing on my mind. But once they turned the corner we were back with a passion."

Cara, who won the All Ireland Singing Trophy at the age of 14 and went on to perform with Oige, De Dannan and Equation, balances her own compositions with reinterpretations of Irish classics — infusing them with youthful passion.

Her Oxford gig will be a must for lovers of Irish roots music. And not just for the chance to see Cara live. It will also allow them to get their hands on her new album Hill of Thieves — which won't be properly released until January.

"I really enjoyed making it as it involved going back to my roots," says Cara.

Recording and gigging partner Sam was heavily involved in the album, and is rarely away from Cara's side.

"We work, live and go on tour together," says Cara. "People ask how we cope. But for us it's natural."

And how does she go about finding new songs?

"I'm from County Derry and the small towns there all have their own music. There's a wealth of tradition.

"Much of the traditional music of Ulster is about emigration and there are lots of songs about people leaving and never returning. It is haunting and stirring stuff about separation of the worse kind.

"Some songs tell very sad stories yet the melodies don't allow you to feel gloomy."

"I learned a lot of these songs when I grew up," she adds "I never set out to find new ones. I just remember old ones. The songs find me — and I bring new life to them.

"People are more interested in real music now," she says. "Things have gone full circle.

"I'm proud of where I'm from. You have to go there. Everything is thriving since the Troubles ended. And hopefully what I'm doing will draw people not only to hear the music, but to see the land."

Cara Dillon plays the Carling Academy on Friday, October 24. Tickets are £15.