Former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, speaking at a ceremony on the steps of the Cathedral of Christ The King in Mullingar during Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2022 where she and her husband, Martin, were honoured for their contribution to Irish music and culture. Also in the photo are, from left, Éamonn Ó hArgáin, president of CCE, Martin McAleese and Labhrás Ó Murchú, director-general of CCE.

Former President is keynote speaker at Athlone event

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Former President, Dr. Mary McAleese is one of the keynote speakers at a three-day conference taking place in Athlone this week which will explore the power of psychology.

Dr. McAleese, who served two terms as President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011, will join the head of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) Dr. Damien Leary, for an in-conversation session this Thursday, November 13, as part of the PSI Annual Conference 2025 in the Sheraton Hotel.

The title of the session 'From Ardoyne to the Áras: Surviving and Thriving' will see the former President explore the political and social aspects of her early life, her educational journey, her time as President of Ireland and post-Áras life.

The Governor of Dublin's Cloverhill Prison, Kevin O'Connell, will fill the keynote slot on Friday, November 14, to speak on the topic of 'The role of psychology in the Irish Prison Service' and his address will be followed by a panel discussion involving psychology team members from the prison service.

Among the other speakers at this year's PSI Annual Conference is Clinical Psychologist based in Exeter, Dr. Leo Russell, who will speak on the theme ‘From Disconnection to Integration: Finding a way forward in Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)’.

Theconference, which begins this Wednesday and concludes on Friday, will hear 231 psychology presentations over the course of three days, ranging from individual and poster presentations to workshops and symposia.

Topics featured will include:

1. Safety interventions to address online hate in Irish politics

2. Motivating factors in misogynistic extremism.

3. Peer-led mental health advocacy in prison.

4. Social media insights on teacher burnout and

5. Compassion focused therapy for the postnatal period.

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