Wexford People

Billy to talk matters of the mind in library

- By MARIA PEPPER

THE well-known Wexford boxing coach Billy Walsh, who is now based in America, is one of four speakers selected to give psychology talks in Wexford Library over the next six weeks.

Billy, who is national head coach with USA Boxing and is frequently in demand as a motivation­al speaker, will talk about ‘The Psychology of Leadership and Motivation’ on Thursday, September 7 at 7pm.

Named as AIBA Coach of the Year in 2016, Billy believes that honesty, humility, personal responsibi­lity, working with what you have and never accepting second best are essential qualities of leadership and the motivation of oneself and others.

In the forthcomin­g talk, he will expand on this belief, using examples from his own life and from the lives of those he has worked with over the years.

The first of the four ‘Mind Matters’ wellness talks will be given tonight (Tuesday), August 15 at 7 pm by Professor Jim Lucey who will elaborate on ‘The Life Well Lived’ which is the title of his second book published in May of this year. He is also the author of the bestsellin­g ‘In My Room’.

Professor Lucey is Medical Director of St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services and Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin. He will talk about how we all long to live a fulfilled and happy life that offers love, opportunit­y, independen­ce and hope but for many people who are struggling with mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders and addiction, a future full of potential seems to be an unachievab­le goal.

Professor Lucey will focus on how a range of contempora­ry therapies can provide pathways to recovery and will explore how the rediscover­y of a life of independen­ce and social connection is not only possible but entirely achievable.

On Tuesday, August 29, at 7 pm, Carlow IT psychology lecturer Mary Bolger will offer a beginner’s journey into the psychology of mind and behaviour entitled ‘Inside the Looking Glass - Who am I and how is my reality shaped’, with a brief history of the developmen­t of psychologi­cal thought and an outline of psychology as we know it today.

Mary will look at how our behaviours can be explored from a psychologi­cal perspectiv­e with a focus on occupation­al psychology, motivating people and training the mind to be positive. No previous knowledge of psychology is required. She has lectured in psychology at Carlow IT for several years, has spoken at many conference­s internatio­nally and been involved in European working groups investigat­ing the dynamics of learning and motivation online.

On Tuesday, September 26, Dr. Sean Moran, a philosophe­r at Waterford Institute of Technology, will talk about ‘Happiness: What is it and how might we achieve it’.

Dr. Moran who is also visiting professor of philosophy at a university in Pakistan, will delve into what philosophe­rs Aristotle and Aquinas had to say on the subject of happiness. He will look at some of the barriers to happiness and how happiness theory translates into lived practice. A discussion session will follow his talk.

Admission is free to all the talks but booking essential. Telephone the library on 053 9196760.

 ??  ?? Billy Walsh.
Billy Walsh.
 ??  ?? Professor Jim Lucey.
Professor Jim Lucey.

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