Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, an Irish singer, song collector and academic comes from the area which was historically the Kingdom of Oriel in Ireland.

The title is also tied with Ní Uallacháin's father, Pádraig's complaint in 1939 to the Department of Education in Dublin, with whom he was employed at the time.

In his complaint, Pádraig wrote: Irish: Shílfeá e h-amharc ar an liosta suarach chéadna nár canadh nóta ceoil ariamh taobh thuas den Bhóinn!English: One would think to look at this same miserable list that a note of music was never sung north of the Boyne!A Hidden Ulster contains expansive notes, lyrics and translations for 54 songs found in the Oriel area, including notation, published for the first time.

A large section of the book is dedicated to the traditions, local customs, festivals and professions of Oriel over a number of centuries.

"[2] Poet and academic Prof. Michael Longley said, "A momentous publication … a treasure trove of words, a cultural and social history … a work of phenomenal concentration, great tenderness and bighearted loyalty.