Liam Ó Maonlaí Leads a Unique Irish-Greek Musical Gathering at Irish Wings Festival in Greece.
A remarkable gathering of musical talent from Ireland and Greece will meet once again on the idyllic island of Paxos in July for Irish Wings, the annual festival of cross-cultural collaborations set against a backdrop of charming villages, crystal-clear waters and the island’s dramatic white cliffs.
At the heart of Irish Wings is a spirit of creative exchange, where music and song from two island traditions at the outer fringes of Europe are freshly imagined and brought together in new, meaningful and exhilarating interpretations.
This year’s special guest and headliner is Liam Ó Maonlaí, the iconic singer and frontman of Hothouse Flowers, renowned for his soul-stirring voice, deep musical curiosity, and ability to move seamlessly between rock, folk, traditional music and improvisation. A powerful live performer and celebrated collaborator, Liam brings a unique emotional intensity to every stage he steps onto, and his presence promises a truly unforgettable Irish Wings collaborative experience.
“Irish Wings is about what happens when two musical traditions with deep roots meet in the same room and really listen to each other. Paxos has a way of slowing everything down, you feel the history, the sea, the stories, and the music responds to that. Bright Phoebus was created for this setting, and bringing Liam Ó Maonlaí into that world this year feels like a perfect fit: adventurous, soulful, and completely open to the moment.” Dónal O’Connor, Musical Director Irish Wings
Joining Liam is Bright Phoebus, the house band of Irish Wings, a Greek-Irish ensemble conceived by leading Irish fiddle player and producer Dónal O’Connor. Bright Phoebus brings together exceptional musicians who are ideally placed to explore the shared emotional worlds of Irish and Greek music: lament and love, rhythm and dance, ancient story and contemporary expression.
Dónal O’Connor is a gifted fiddle player and sought-after music and television producer, described by The Irish Times as a “fearless musical adventurer.” He comes from a long and distinguished line of Irish traditional musicians and singers and has performed and recorded with many of Ireland’s finest artists. He is also the founder and artistic director of Belfast TradFest, a major week-long programme of traditional music events, education and cultural dialogue that attracts tens of thousands of attendees annually.
Dónal was inspired to form Bright Phoebus by the song repertoire of his mother, the noted traditional Irish singer Eithne Ní Uallacháin, who performed and recorded songs from the Irish tradition that referenced Grecian queens, kings, gods and goddesses, a poetic bridge between the two cultures which has become a guiding thread for Irish Wings.
Also returning to Paxos is Chrysoula Kechagioglou, the celebrated Greek vocalist whose affinity for Irish music has made her a beloved figure among Irish & Greek audiences. Chrysoula was a guest of honour at Andy Irvine’s 80th birthday concert at Dublin’s Vicar Street, and has collaborated with Irvine and Dónal Lunny on numerous occasions, including with their multicultural folk band Mozaik. A frequent guest at Irish Wings, she is known for her soulful delivery, charisma and remarkable ability to inhabit both traditions with sincerity and joy.
From Ireland, Irish Wings is delighted to welcome back Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, one of Ireland’s most acclaimed traditional singers, and a leading exponent of the sean-nós style. Muireann spent over thirteen years as lead singer and flute player with Danú, and in 2022 she was awarded Best Folk Singer at the RTÉ Radio Folk Awards. She was Amhránaí na Bliana/Singer of the Year at the TG4 Gradaim Ceoil awards in 2011 and continues to receive critical acclaim for her recordings and touring work, including her landmark collaboration Róisín ReImagined with the Irish Chamber Orchestra.
Alexandros Kapsokavadis (guitar & lute) was born in Athens and began studying classical guitar and music theory at the age of ten, at the music school of West Attica he was introduced to traditional and folk instruments, studying with leading musicians including Christos Tsiamoulis and Nikos Grapsas. Following his studies, he worked closely with Ross Daly, deepening his focus on the lute and the musical traditions of the Eastern Mediterranean. Alexandros holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology. As a performer, he has collaborated with many of Greece’s most renowned artists, including Stavros Xarchakos, Haris Alexiou and Savina Giannatou.
Effie Zaitidou (Kanun) was born in Athens. She grew up into a musical family and was deeply immersed in the sound of Byzantine and traditional Greek music from very young. During her studies in the Technological Educational Institute of Epirus, she devoted herself to the study of music traditions found in the area of the wider eastern Mediterranean. She is a member of Al Mahabba Ensemble which was founded with the purpose of research and performance of classic Arabic music from Middle East and the Arabic-speaking countries of Africa. She has collaborated with famous Greek composers and singers like Yiannis Markopoulos and Nikos Xydakis.
“There’s something uniquely powerful about Irish Wings, it’s intimate, it’s warm, and it’s built on genuine connection. People come for the music, but they leave feeling part of a shared experience between Ireland and Greece. This year’s programme brings together extraordinary artists who are fearless collaborators, and we’re delighted to welcome audiences back to Loggos for another unforgettable night under the Paxos sky.” Kathryn Baird, Festival Producer
Welcoming the Irish Wings ensemble to the Paxos stage is Paxos-born virtuoso Elias Dendias, a master of the bouzouki and a leading exponent of rebetiko, the Greek blues. Dendias is known for his fluid precision, expressive depth and broad musical influences, and his collaborations span Irish and international scenes, including performances with Andy Irvine, Dónal Lunny, and Crowded House, with whom he toured around the world in 2024.
Together, these exceptional artists will present a varied programme that celebrates the richness of Irish and Greek musical heritage, while exploring new connections and collaborations under the Paxos starlit sky.
“We are delighted and honoured this year to be part of Cultúr 2026: Sharing Ireland’s Culture, the cultural programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which starts this July. It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our music with amazing Greek musicians and people from all over the world who flock to the beautiful island of Paxos.” Dónal O’Connor, Musical Director, Irish Wings.
In this year of celebration a programme of workshops will run alongside the main concert, providing a meaningful educational strand and deepening the festival’s cross-cultural impact. Delivered by the visiting Irish and Greek artists, the workshops offer participants hands-on engagement with Irish and Greek traditional music through rhythm, melody, instrumental style and song. Sessions include bodhrán (instruments supplied) with Liam Ó Maonlaí, tin whistle (whistles supplied) with Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Irish fiddle with Dónal O’Connor, Greek traditional song with Chrysoula Kechagioglou, Greek traditional instrumental music (all instruments welcome) with Alexandros Kapsokavadis, and Greek bouzouki with Elias Dendias. The workshop programme supports learning, access and cultural exchange, offering an opportunity for musicians and singers of all levels to explore tradition in a shared creative space.
“Irish Wings has become one of the defining nights of the Paxos Music Festival. It brings an extraordinary spirit of warmth and artistic connection, and it draws audiences who are curious, engaged, and open to discovering Irish music in a meaningful way. Within our month-long festival, Irish Wings represents a vital cultural bridge, a celebration of Ireland and Greece meeting through song, rhythm and storytelling.— Faye Lychnou, Director, Paxos Music Festival
We are deeply grateful to our sponsors and supporters, without whom Irish Wings could not happen: Embassy of Ireland, Greece; Culture Ireland; Jameson whiskey; the Hellenic Community of Ireland; Friends of Paxos; Paxos Music Festival; Municipality of Paxos.
