Biography

Dr. Wesley O’Brien, is a Senior Lecturer in Physical Education and Coaching Science, serving as the Programme Director on the B.Ed. in Physical Education, Sports Studies and Arts Degree, in the School of Education, at University College Cork (UCC). Wesley was awarded his PhD in youth physical activity promotion at the School of Health and Human Performance, at Dublin City University in September 2013. His PhD was entitled the “Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health” (Y-PATH) programme which gathered information on levels of physical activity, fundamental movement skills and body mass index amongst adolescents in Irish post-primary schools. This PhD research study (O'Brien et al., 2013; 2015; 2016a; 2016b; 2018; Belton et al., 2014; 2019; 2022) was a unique longitudinal pilot exploratory intervention trial describing the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of the Y-PATH school-based intervention. Wesley has previously lectured at The University of Bolton, Dublin City University and Munster Technological University. Over the past fourteen years, he has lectured in the areas of teaching and learning in physical education, coaching studies, exercise physiology, health-related physical fitness, movement analysis, childhood fundamental movement skills, motor development, outdoor and adventure education, physical activity, nutrition and weight management. Wesley is presently the Principal Investigator on a sample of longitudinal and postgraduate research projects (Project FLAME, Gaelic for Girls, Gaelic4Mothers&Others, State of Mind Ireland). He is also an active collaborator with Dublin City University and the Irish Heart Foundation on the Y-PATH PE4Me programme, which commenced national dissemination in 2018. 
Wesley completed his B.Ed in Sports Studies and Physical Education (1st Hons) in 2010 at UCC. In January 2014, Wesley joined the Physical Education, Sports Studies and Arts (School of Education) team at UCC, and delivers modules across the B.Ed and M.Ed programmes, alongside supervising Masters and PhD students. His main teaching responsibilities lie within the delivery of physical education, sports coaching, exercise physiology, movement analysis and health-related physical fitness modules. 
Wesley is actively involved in UCC GAA club, and has served (or is serving) in roles such as the conditioning and skills coach for the fresher hurling team, and the senior hurling/camogie teams between 2014 and 2025. In 2019, Wesley coached the UCC senior hurling team to win the Fitzgibbon Cup All-Ireland Championship. In 2021, Wesley coached the Cork Minor hurling team to win the All-Ireland Championship. He has also previously coached the Cork Senior Camogie team for four years (2015, 2016, 2023 and 2024), whom won the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship in the years 2015, 2023 and 2024. Wesley is currently coaching the Cork Senior Camogie team for the 2025 season in an athletic development and on-field coaching capacity. 

Research Interests

Dr. Wesley O’Brien, is a Physical Education and Coaching Science Senior Lecturer, working in the School of Education, at University College Cork (UCC). Wesley is an active researcher who joined the School of Education in 2014, having completed his PhD at Dublin City University in 2013. His PhD research entitled the “Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health” (Y-PATH) programme focused on physical activity participation among adolescents in a number of Irish post-primary schools. This research has seen Wesley present at many sample conferences (North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, International Motor Development Research Consortium, European Conference on Educational Research, International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Health-Enhancing Physical Activity, European Congress of Sports Science, Early Childhood Ireland, Physical Education-Physical Activity-Youth Sport, Physical Education Association of Ireland) alongside submitting his research to many leading journals (Sports Medicine, Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, European Physical Education Review, British Journal of Sports Medicine, Journal of Motor Learning and Development, Sports, Mental Health and Physical Activity, Irish Educational Studies, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, Journal of Sport Sciences, Journal of Physical Activity and Health, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, BMC Public Health, MOJ Public Health, Advances in Physical Education) on topics that explore physical literacy, physical education, wellbeing, motor competence and physical activity among children, adolescents and adults. Wesley has externally and internally assessed many postgraduate research students at oral examination level, and has been a nominated external examiner at postgraduate and undergraduate degree programme level for other institutions outside of UCC. Wesley is an advocate for increasing youth physical activity participation, in conjunction with teacher, parental and community involvement.
Research Interests:
Physical Education and Physical Activity: Developing an evidence-base for youth physical activity promotion through the physical education environment.
Whole School Physical Literacy Initiatives: Enhancing youth physical literacy levels through teacher, parental and community involvement.
Motor Competence for Physical Literacy: The integration of functional movement and fundamental movement skills for physical literacy development within pre, primary and post-primary education.
Intervention Implementation: The design, development and sustainability of school-based physical activity and physical literacy interventions.
Measurement: Objective and subjective instruments for motor competence and physical activity assessment.
Sedentary Behaviour and Body Composition: Youth sedentary behaviour and obesity prevalence
Wellbeing: The promotion of wellbeing in primary, secondary and third-level education settings.

Research Grants

  Project Funding
Body 		Start Date End Date Award
Gaelic for Mothers and Others Other: Not Listed 01-JUN-23 31-DEC-24 €15,000.00
Catalyst Fund Application Other: Not Listed 01-JAN-23 31-DEC-24 €80,000.00
An investigation into Post-primary teachers’ perspectives of wellbeing and implementation of the Junior Cert wellbeing guidelines in schools. Other: Not Listed 01-JUN-22 31-DEC-23 €4,000.00
Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity (CSPPA 2022) Other: Not Listed 01-JAN-22 31-DEC-22 €228,493.00
Quality of Teaching in Physical Education (QualiTePE) ERASMUS 01-JAN-22 31-DEC-24 €387,390.00
Experience of Gaelic Games amongst teenage participants Other: Not Listed 01-JAN-22 31-DEC-22 €15,000.00
Employment PhD Scholarship College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences 01-SEP-20 01-SEP-24 €44,000.00
Project FLAME (Fundamental and Functional Literacy for Activity and Movement Efficiency - Community Sport Implementation Other: Not Listed 01-JAN-20 31-DEC-21 €20,000.00
CACSSS Impact Funding Scheme 2019 Other: Not Listed 12-SEP-19 31-DEC-19 €1,350.00
National Consensus Statement Physical Literacy Other: Not Listed 01-JUL-19 31-DEC-20 €58,305.00
Activity to Longevity Project - UCC Green Campus Living Laboratory Seed Fund Other: Not Listed 01-JUN-19 31-DEC-20 €10,000.00
Irish Research Council Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme 2018-2019 Irish Research Council 01-OCT-18 30-SEP-19 €24,000.00
Follow up evaluation of Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity (CSPPA17-18) Other: Not Listed 26-OCT-17 26-OCT-18 €288,613.00
Project FLAME (Fundamental and Functional Literacy for Activity and Movement Efficiency - Intervention Design and Dissemination Other: Not Listed 01-JAN-18 31-DEC-19 €25,000.00
European Physical Education Observatory ERASMUS 01-OCT-17 01-OCT-20 €383,983.00
CACSSS Research Support Grant 2014-2018 UCC Strategic Research Fund 01-JAN-14 31-DEC-18 €500.00
Y-PATH National and Online Dissemination Other: Not Listed 01-JAN-18 31-DEC-18 €50,000.00
Y-PATH and National Curricular Dissemination Other: Not Listed 01-JAN-17 31-DEC-17 €25,000.00
Dissemination and evaluation of the Sport For Life All Island primary school physical activity intervention Other: Not Listed 01-JUL-14 31-DEC-15 €103,097.00
Evaluation of Y-PATH intervention Other: Not Listed 01-SEP-13 01-SEP-14 €6,000.00
Measurement and development of the Y-PATH (PA) intervention Other: Not Listed 01-SEP-10 01-SEP-13 €10,000.00

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2024) 'The importance of movement - How to encourage physical activity in a media-saturated world'
O’Brien, Wesley, & Khodaverdi. Zeinab. (2024) 'The importance of movement - How to encourage physical activity in a media-saturated world' In: 12-Year-Old Ready - Expert advice for parents to navigate the year ahead. USA: Parent Ready. [Details]
(2021) 'Threshold concepts in physical education: A design thinking approach'
O'Brien, Wesley; Hall, Nathan; Barnett, Lisa M; Farmer, Orlagh (2021) 'Threshold concepts in physical education: A design thinking approach' In: Chambers, Fiona; Aldous, David; Bryant, Anna; (eds). Gaelic games case study conversation: In flow and in the zone. New York: Routledge. [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Before- and after- school interventions in youth physical activity: Current situation and future directions'
Belton, S., & O’Brien, W. (2020) 'Before- and after- school interventions in youth physical activity: Current situation and future directions' In: T. A. Brusseau, S. J. Fairclough, & D. R. Lubans (eds). The Routledge Handbook of Youth Physical Activity. New York: Routledge. [Details]
(2018) 'Irish Case Study Conversation'
O' Brien, Wesley., Cuthbert, Brian., McCarthy, Niall. (2018) 'Irish Case Study Conversation' In: Chamber, F.C (eds). Learning to Mentor in Sports Coaching: A Design Thinking Approach. London: Routledge. [Details]
(2016) 'James: Physical Education Teacher'
Chambers, F., Sherry, J., Murphy, O., O’ Brien, W., & Breslin, G. (2016) 'James: Physical Education Teacher' In: A. Casey, V. Goodyear, & K. Armour (eds). Digital Technologies and Learning in Physical Education: Pedagogical Cases. London: Routledge. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2025) 'An analysis of primary school student’s holistic well-being using Photovoice in the context of a developing school'
Cashman, David; O'Brien, Wesley; Chambers, Fiona, (2025) 'An analysis of primary school student’s holistic well-being using Photovoice in the context of a developing school'. Health Education, [Details]
(2024) 'Physical literacy- being active to live your best life'
Goss, H., Belton, S., O’Brien, W., Duncan, M., & Foweather, L. (2024) 'Physical literacy- being active to live your best life'. Frontiers for Young Minds, [Details]
(2024) 'Stakeholder perceptions of physical literacy: results from a national consultation in England'
Duncan MJ;Essiet I;Hurter L;Roberts WM;Lewis K;Goss H;Morris JL;Bingham DD;O'Brien W;Barnett LM;Shearer C;Daly-Smith A;Foweather L; (2024) 'Stakeholder perceptions of physical literacy: results from a national consultation in England'. Frontiers In Sports And Active Living, 6 [DOI] [Details]
(2024) 'Feasibility and acceptability of the Promoting Pupils' Physical Literacy (3PL) intervention and its effectiveness research design: A study protocol'
Amholt TT;Kurtzhals M;Melby PS;Stage A;Issartel J;O'Brien W;Belton S;Bølling M;Nielsen G;Bentsen P;Elsborg P; (2024) 'Feasibility and acceptability of the Promoting Pupils' Physical Literacy (3PL) intervention and its effectiveness research design: A study protocol'. Plos One, 19 (1) [DOI] [Details]
(2024) 'Correlates of Motor Competence in Primary School Students: A Cross-Sectional Study From a Portuguese Municipality'
Carvalho, F., Onofre, M., Mota, J., Peralta, M., Marques, A., Quitério, A., Rodrigues, A., Alves, P., O’Brien, W., & Martins, J. (2024) 'Correlates of Motor Competence in Primary School Students: A Cross-Sectional Study From a Portuguese Municipality'. Journal of Motor Learning and Development, [DOI] [Details]
(2024) 'An exploration of the perceived impact of COVID-19 on physical activity of Irish adolescents'
Ng, K., Britton, U., O’Brien, W., McFlynn, P., Connolly, S., Murphy, M. H., & Woods, C. (2024) 'An exploration of the perceived impact of COVID-19 on physical activity of Irish adolescents'. European Journal of Public Health, [Details]
(2024) 'Results from Ireland North and South's 2022 report card on physical activity for children and adolescents'
Carlin A;Connolly S;Redpath T;Belton S;Coppinger T;Cunningham C;Donnelly A;Dowd K;Harrington D;Murtagh E;Ng K;O'Brien W;Rodriguez L;Woods C;McAvoy H;Murphy M; (2024) 'Results from Ireland North and South's 2022 report card on physical activity for children and adolescents'. Journal Of Exercise Science And Fitness, 22 (1) [DOI] [Details]
(2024) 'Wellbeing in education unveiled: teachers’ insights in Irish post-primary education'
O’Brien, N., O’Brien, W., & Goodwin, J. (2024) 'Wellbeing in education unveiled: teachers’ insights in Irish post-primary education'. Discover Education, [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'Higher Family Affluence is Associated With Multi-Sport Participation Among Irish Youth'
Kearney PE;Sherwin I;O'Brien W;Nevill AM;Ng K; (2023) 'Higher Family Affluence is Associated With Multi-Sport Participation Among Irish Youth'. Perceptual and Motor Skills, [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'What keeps FLAME lit? Comparing two modes of implementation of a physical education-based intervention to improve motor competence among Irish adolescents'
Ma, J., O’Brien, W., Lester, D., Eyre, E. L. J., Lander, N., Koorts, H., Barnett, L. M., & Duncan, M (2023) 'What keeps FLAME lit? Comparing two modes of implementation of a physical education-based intervention to improve motor competence among Irish adolescents'. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'Exploring Recommendations for Child and Adolescent Fundamental Movement Skills Development: A Narrative Review'
O'Brien W;Khodaverdi Z;Bolger L;Murphy O;Philpott C;Kearney PE; (2023) 'Exploring Recommendations for Child and Adolescent Fundamental Movement Skills Development: A Narrative Review'. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20 (4) [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'The Impact of Typical School Provision of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sports on Adolescent Physical Activity Behaviors: A Systematic Literature Review'
Rocliffe P.;O’Keeffe B.;Walsh L.;Stylianou M.;Woodforde J.;García-González L.;O’Brien W.;Coppinger T.;Sherwin I.;Mannix-McNamara P.;MacDonncha C. (2023) 'The Impact of Typical School Provision of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sports on Adolescent Physical Activity Behaviors: A Systematic Literature Review'. Adolescent Research Review, [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'Motor Competence Among Irish Adolescents: An Investigation of Sex Differences and Relatedness Between Fundamental Movement Skills and Functional Movement'
Philpott, C., Donovan, B., Belton, S., Lester, D., Chambers, F.C. & O'Brien, W. (2023) 'Motor Competence Among Irish Adolescents: An Investigation of Sex Differences and Relatedness Between Fundamental Movement Skills and Functional Movement'. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 130 (1):27-53 [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'Differential Associations of Total and Context-Specific Sedentary Time with Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescents: Results from Ireland's CSPPA Study'
Forte, C;McDowell, CP;Woods, CB;Hallgren, M;O'Brien, W;Belton, S;Murphy, MH;Powell, C;Herring, MP (2023) 'Differential Associations of Total and Context-Specific Sedentary Time with Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescents: Results from Ireland's CSPPA Study'. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'Irish Para Report Card on Physical Activity of Children and Adolescents With Disabilities'
Ng K;Healy S;O'Brien W;Rodriguez L;Murphy M;Carlin A; (2023) 'Irish Para Report Card on Physical Activity of Children and Adolescents With Disabilities'. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly : Apaq, 40 (3):504-512 [DOI] [Details]
(2022) 'Motor competence interventions in children and adolescents - theoretical and atheoretical approaches: A systematic review'
Khodaverdi, Zeinab;O'Brien, Wesley;Duncan, Michael;Clark, Cain C. T. (2022) 'Motor competence interventions in children and adolescents - theoretical and atheoretical approaches: A systematic review'. Journal of Sports Sciences, [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2022) 'Coaches’ experience of the “Gaelic4Teens” Program in Ireland'
O'Brien, Wesley.; Hogan, Irene.; Coppinger, Tara (2022) 'Coaches’ experience of the “Gaelic4Teens” Program in Ireland'. International Sport Coaching Journal, 10 (1):70-77 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2022) 'The effect of karate interventions on the motor proficiency of female adolescents with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) from high and low socio-economic status'
Ghadiri, F., O’Brien, W., Soltani, S., & Faraji, M. (2022) 'The effect of karate interventions on the motor proficiency of female adolescents with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) from high and low socio-economic status'. BMC Sports Science Medicine And Rehabilitation, [DOI] [Details]
(2022) 'Physical education student teachers’ wellbeing during Covid-19: Resilience resources and challenges from school placement'
O’Brien, Niamh; O’Brien, Wesley; Costa, João; Adamakis, Manolis (2022) 'Physical education student teachers’ wellbeing during Covid-19: Resilience resources and challenges from school placement'. European Physical Education Review, :1-17 [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2022) 'The Assessment of Functional Movement in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis'
O’Brien W.;Khodaverdi Z.;Bolger L.;Tarantino G.;Philpott C.;Neville R.D. (2022) 'The Assessment of Functional Movement in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis'. Sports Medicine, [DOI] [Details]
(2022) 'Motor competence assessment in physical education–convergent validity between fundamental movement skills and functional movement assessments in adolescence'
O’Brien W.;Philpott C.;Lester D.;Belton S.;Duncan M.J.;Donovan B.;Chambers F.;Utesch T. (2022) 'Motor competence assessment in physical education–convergent validity between fundamental movement skills and functional movement assessments in adolescence'. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, [DOI] [Details]
(2022) 'A new curriculum model for second level Physical Education: Y-PATH PE4Me'
Belton, S.; O’Brien, W.; Murtagh, E.; Costa, J.; Issartel, J.; McGann, J.; Manninen, M (2022) 'A new curriculum model for second level Physical Education: Y-PATH PE4Me'. Curriculum Studies In Health And Physical Education, [Details]
(2022) 'Motor competence among children in the UK and Ireland: An expert statement on behalf of the International Motor Development Research Consortium'
Duncan, M. J.; Foweather, L.; Bardid, F.; Barnett, A. L.; Rudd, J.; O’Brien, W.; Foulkes, J. D.; Roscoe, C.; Issartel, J.; Stratton, G.; Clark, C. C. T. (2022) 'Motor competence among children in the UK and Ireland: An expert statement on behalf of the International Motor Development Research Consortium'. Journal of Motor Learning and Development, [Details]
(2022) 'The Implementation of a National Strategy to Encourage Injury Prevention Program Uptake in a Community Female Sport in Ireland: A Camogie Case Study'
O’Connor, S.; O’Brien, W.; & Lacey, P. (2022) 'The Implementation of a National Strategy to Encourage Injury Prevention Program Uptake in a Community Female Sport in Ireland: A Camogie Case Study'. International Sport Coaching Journal, [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Details]
(2022) 'Are all domains created equal? An exploration of stakeholder views on the concept of physical literacy'
Belton, S.; Connolly, S.; Peers, C.; Goss, H.; Murphy, M.; Murtagh, E.; Kavanagh, J.; Corr, M.; Ferguson, K.; & O’Brien, W. (2022) 'Are all domains created equal? An exploration of stakeholder views on the concept of physical literacy'. BMC Public Health, [Details]
(2021) 'Relationship between Gender, Physical Activity, Screen Time, Body Mass Index and Wellbeing in Irish Children from Social-Disadvantage'
W. O’Brien, Sj Belton, B. Fitzpatrick, S. Shannon, D.A. Brennan, F.C. Chambers, K. O’Donovan & G. Breslin (2021) 'Relationship between Gender, Physical Activity, Screen Time, Body Mass Index and Wellbeing in Irish Children from Social-Disadvantage'. Child Care In Practice, [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Effects of an 8-week intervention targeting the veridicality of actual and perceived motor competence among Irish adolescents in Project FLAME'
Philpott, C., Utesch, T., Belton, S., Donovan, B., Chambers, F., Lester, D., & O’Brien, W. (2021) 'Effects of an 8-week intervention targeting the veridicality of actual and perceived motor competence among Irish adolescents in Project FLAME'. Perceptual and Motor Skills, [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Socio-ecological correlates of physical activity in a nationally representative sample of adolescents across Ireland and Northern Ireland'
Woods, C. B., Crowley, E., Powell, C., O’Brien, W., Murphy, M. H., Belton, S., Saunders, J., Connolly, S., Farmer, O., & Ng, K. (2021) 'Socio-ecological correlates of physical activity in a nationally representative sample of adolescents across Ireland and Northern Ireland'. Preventive Medicine Reports, 23 (101472):1-9 [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'The association of family, friends and teacher support with girls’ sport and physical activity on the island of Ireland'
O’Brien, W.; Coppinger, T.; Hogan, I.; Belton, S.; Murphy, M. H.; & Woods, C. (2021) 'The association of family, friends and teacher support with girls’ sport and physical activity on the island of Ireland'. Journal of physical activity & health, [Details]
(2021) 'Motor competence performances among girls aged 7-10 years old: Different dimensions of the motor competence construct using common assessment batteries'
Khodaverdi, Z.; Bahram, A.; Khalaji, H.; Kazemnejad, A.; Ghadiri, F.; O’Brien, W. (2021) 'Motor competence performances among girls aged 7-10 years old: Different dimensions of the motor competence construct using common assessment batteries'. Journal of Motor Learning and Development, [Details]
(2021) 'A Narrative Review of Motor Competence in Children and Adolescents: What We Know and What We Need to Find Out'
Lopes, L;Santos, R;Coelho-E-Silva, M;Draper, C;Mota, J;Jidovtseff, B;Clark, C;Schmidt, M;Morgan, P;Duncan, M;O'Brien, W;Bentsen, P;D'Hondt, E;Houwen, S;Stratton, G;Martelaer, K;Scheuer, C;Herrmann, C;García-Hermoso, A;Ramírez-Vélez, R;Palmeira, A;Gerlach, E;Rosário, R;Issartel, J;Esteban-Cornejo, I;Ruiz, J;Veldman, S;Zhang, Z;Colella, D;Póvoas, S;Haibach-Beach, P;Pereira, J;McGrane, B;Saraiva, J;Temple, V;Silva, P;Sigmund, E;Sousa-Sá, E;Adamakis, M;Moreira, C;Utesch, T;True, L;Cheung, P;Carcamo-Oyarzun, J;Charitou, S;Chillón, P;Robazza, C;Silva, A;Silva, D;Lima, R;Mourão-Carvalhal, I;Khodaverdi, Z;Zequinão, M;Pereira, B;Prista, A;Agostinis-Sobrinho, C; (2021) 'A Narrative Review of Motor Competence in Children and Adolescents: What We Know and What We Need to Find Out'. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (1) [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2021) 'Global levels of fundamental motor skills in children: A systematic review'
Bolger, LE;Bolger, LA;O'Neill, C;Coughlan, E;O'Brien, W;Lacey, S;Burns, C;Bardid, F (2021) 'Global levels of fundamental motor skills in children: A systematic review'. Journal of Sports Sciences, [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Implications for European Physical Education Teacher Education during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-institutional SWOT analysis'
O’Brien W.;Adamakis M.;O’ Brien N.;Onofre M.;Martins J.;Dania A.;Makopoulou K.;Herold F.;Ng K.;Costa J. (2020) 'Implications for European Physical Education Teacher Education during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-institutional SWOT analysis'. European Journal of Teacher Education, [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2020) 'Investigating the age-related association between perceived motor competence and actual motor competence in adolescence'
Philpott C.;Donovan B.;Belton S.;Lester D.;Duncan M.;Chambers F.;O’brien W. (2020) 'Investigating the age-related association between perceived motor competence and actual motor competence in adolescence'. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (17):1-18 [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'State of mind ireland-higher education: A mixed-methods longitudinal evaluation of a positive mental health intervention'
O’Brien N.;Lawlor M.;Chambers F.;O’Brien W. (2020) 'State of mind ireland-higher education: A mixed-methods longitudinal evaluation of a positive mental health intervention'. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (15):1-23 [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Mental fitness in higher education: Intervention Mapping programme design'
O' Brien N.;Lawlor M.;Chambers F.;O'Brien W. (2020) 'Mental fitness in higher education: Intervention Mapping programme design'. Health Education Journal, [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Levels of wellbeing, resilience, and physical activity amongst Irish pre-service teachers: a baseline study§'
O’Brien, Niamh; Lawlor, Martin; Chambers, Fiona; Breslin, Gavin; O’Brien, Wesley (2020) 'Levels of wellbeing, resilience, and physical activity amongst Irish pre-service teachers: a baseline study§'. Irish Educational Studies, [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2020) 'Gaelic4Girls-The Effectiveness of a 10-Week Multicomponent Community Sports-Based Physical Activity Intervention for 8 to 12-Year-Old Girls'
Farmer O;Cahill K;O'Brien W; (2020) 'Gaelic4Girls-The Effectiveness of a 10-Week Multicomponent Community Sports-Based Physical Activity Intervention for 8 to 12-Year-Old Girls'. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (18) [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Physical Activity, Sport and Physical Education in Northern Ireland School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study'
Connolly S;Carlin A;Johnston A;Woods C;Powell C;Belton S;O'Brien W;Saunders J;Duff C;Farmer O;Murphy M; (2020) 'Physical Activity, Sport and Physical Education in Northern Ireland School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study'. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (18) [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'A Scoping Review of Children and Adolescents’ Active Travel in Irelan'
João Costa, Manolis Adamakis, Wesley O'Brien, João Martins (2020) 'A Scoping Review of Children and Adolescents’ Active Travel in Irelan'. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (6):1-20 [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2020) 'The (mis)alignment between young people’s collective physical activity experience and physical education curriculum development in Ireland'
Coulter, Maura; Scanlon, Dylan; MacPhail, Ann; O’Brien, Wesley; Belton, Sarahjane; Woods, Catherine (2020) 'The (mis)alignment between young people’s collective physical activity experience and physical education curriculum development in Ireland'. Curriculum Studies In Health And Physical Education, [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2020) 'Clusters of adolescent physical activity tracker patterns and its associations with physical activity behaviours in Finland and Ireland: A cross-sectional study'
Ng, K., Kokko, S., Tammelin, T., Kallio, J., Belton, S., O’Brien, W., Murphy, M., Powell, C., & Woods, C. (2020) 'Clusters of adolescent physical activity tracker patterns and its associations with physical activity behaviours in Finland and Ireland: A cross-sectional study'. Journal of medical Internet research, [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Promoting active lifestyles in schools'
O'Brien, W (2019) 'Promoting active lifestyles in schools'. Sport Education and Society, 24 :907-911 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Run, jump, throw and catch: How proficient are children attending English schools at the fundamental motor skills identified as key within the school curriculum?'
Duncan M.;Roscoe C.;Noon M.;Clark C.;O’Brien W.;Eyre E. (2019) 'Run, jump, throw and catch: How proficient are children attending English schools at the fundamental motor skills identified as key within the school curriculum?'. European Physical Education Review, [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'The effect of sport for LIFE: all island in children from low socio-economic status: a clustered randomized controlled trial'
Breslin, G;Shannon, S;Rafferty, R;Fitzpatrick, B;Belton, S;O'Brien, W;Chambers, FC;Haughey, T;Hanna, D;Gormley, R;McCullagh, D;Brennan, D (2019) 'The effect of sport for LIFE: all island in children from low socio-economic status: a clustered randomized controlled trial'. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 17 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Every minute counts: Patterns of physical activity participation in children of social disadvantage in Ireland'
Belton, Sarahjane; Breslin, Gavin; Shannon, Stephen; O'Brien, Wesley; Fitzpatrick, Ben; Haughey, Tandy; Chambers, Fiona; Powell, Danielle; McCullagh, Darryl; Brennan, Deirdre; (2019) 'Every minute counts: Patterns of physical activity participation in children of social disadvantage in Ireland'. The Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 16 (5):333-339 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Bright spots physical activity investments that work: Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health (Y-PATH)'
Belton, S; O'Brien, W; McGann, J; Issartel, J (2019) 'Bright spots physical activity investments that work: Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health (Y-PATH)'. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 53 :208-212 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'A consideration for physical literacy in Irish youth, and implications for physical education in a changing landscape'
Belton, Sarahjane; Issartel, Johann; McGrane, Bronagh; Powell, Danielle; O’Brien, Wesley; (2019) 'A consideration for physical literacy in Irish youth, and implications for physical education in a changing landscape'. Irish Educational Studies, [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'The effectiveness of two interventions on fundamental movement skill proficiency among a cohort of Irish primary school children'
Bolger L.E.;Bolger L.A.;O'Neill C.;Coughlan E.;O'Brien W.;Lacey S.;Burns C. (2019) 'The effectiveness of two interventions on fundamental movement skill proficiency among a cohort of Irish primary school children'. Journal of Motor Learning and Development, 7 (2):153-179 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Fundamental Movement Skill Proficiency and Health Among a Cohort of Irish Primary School Children'
Bolger, LA; Bolger, LE; O'Neill, C; Coughlan, E; Lacey, S; O'Brien, W; Burns, C (2019) 'Fundamental Movement Skill Proficiency and Health Among a Cohort of Irish Primary School Children'. Research Quarterly For Exercise and Sport, 90 :24-35 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Accuracy of children's perceived skill competence and its association with physical activity'
Bolger, Lisa; Bolger, Linda; O’ Neill, Cian; Coughlan, Edward; O’Brien, Wesley; Lacey, Seán; Burns, Con; (2019) 'Accuracy of children's perceived skill competence and its association with physical activity'. The Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 16 (1):29-36 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Kids Active: Evaluation of an Educator-Led Active Play and Fundamental Movement Skill Intervention in the Irish Preschool Setting'
Duff, C., Issartel, J., O’ Brien, W., & Belton, S. (2019) 'Kids Active: Evaluation of an Educator-Led Active Play and Fundamental Movement Skill Intervention in the Irish Preschool Setting'. Journal of Motor Learning and Development, 7 :389-407 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Physical activity and fundamental movement skills of 3- To 5-year-old children in Irish preschool services'
Duff C.;Issartel J.;O' Brien W.;Belton S. (2019) 'Physical activity and fundamental movement skills of 3- To 5-year-old children in Irish preschool services'. Journal of Motor Learning and Development, 7 (3):354-373 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Do Irish Adolescents Have Adequate Functional Movement Skill and Confidence?'
O'Brien, Wesley; Duncan, Michael J.; Farmer, Orlagh; Lester, Diarmuid (2018) 'Do Irish Adolescents Have Adequate Functional Movement Skill and Confidence?'. Journal of Motor Learning and Development, 6 (s2):s301-s319 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2018) 'Relationship between Physical Activity, Screen Time and Weight Status among Young Adolescents'
O'Brien, W; Issartel, J; Belton, S; (2018) 'Relationship between Physical Activity, Screen Time and Weight Status among Young Adolescents'. Sports (Basel, Switzerland), 6 (3) [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Enhancing the evidence-base for Irish female youth participation in physical activity – the development of the ‘Gaelic for Girls’ program'
Farmer, Orlagh; Duffy, Donna; Cahill, Kevin; Lester, Diarmuid; Belton, Sarahjane; O'Brien, Wesley; (2018) 'Enhancing the evidence-base for Irish female youth participation in physical activity – the development of the ‘Gaelic for Girls’ program'. Women, Sport and Physical Activity Journal, 26 (2):111-123 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Self-perceived and Actual Motor Competence in Young British Children'
Duncan, M; Jones, V; O'Brien, W; Barnett, L; Eyre, E; (2018) 'Self-perceived and Actual Motor Competence in Young British Children'. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 125(2):251-264 (2):251-264 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Increasing Athlete Knowledge of Mental Health and Intentions to Seek Help: The State of Mind Ireland (SOMI) Pilot Program'
Breslin, G; Haughey, T; O'Brien, W; Caulfield, L; Robertson, A; Lawlor, M (2018) 'Increasing Athlete Knowledge of Mental Health and Intentions to Seek Help: The State of Mind Ireland (SOMI) Pilot Program'. Journal Of Clinical Sport Psychology, 12 (1):39-56 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Age and Sex Differences in Fundamental Movement Skills Among a Cohort of Irish School Children'
Bolger, Lisa. Bolger, Linda. O'Neill, C. Coughlan, Edward. O'Brien, Wesley. Lacey, Sean. Burns, Con. (2018) 'Age and Sex Differences in Fundamental Movement Skills Among a Cohort of Irish School Children'. Journal of Motor Learning and Development, 6 (1):81-100 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'The Age-Related Association of Movement in Irish Adolescent Youth'
Lester, Diarmuid., McGrane, Bronagh., Belton, Sarahjane., Duncan, Michael J., Chambers, Fiona C., O'Brien, Wesley (2017) 'The Age-Related Association of Movement in Irish Adolescent Youth'. Sports (Basel, Switzerland), 5 (77):1-16 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'The Relationship between Actual Fundamental Motor Skill Proficiency, Perceived Motor Skill Confidence and Competence, and Physical Activity in 8–12-Year-Old Irish Female Youth'
Farmer, Orlagh., Belton, Sarahjane., O’Brien, Wesley (2017) 'The Relationship between Actual Fundamental Motor Skill Proficiency, Perceived Motor Skill Confidence and Competence, and Physical Activity in 8–12-Year-Old Irish Female Youth'. Sports (Basel, Switzerland), 5 (74):1-13 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Physical activity and wellbeing of 8–9 year old children from social disadvantage: An all-Ireland approach to health'
Breslin, Gavin., Fitzpatrick, Ben., Brennan, Deirdre., Shannon, Stephen., Rafferty, Ruth., O'Brien, Wesley., Belton, Sarahjane., Chambers, Fiona., Haughey, Tandy., McCullagh, Darryl., Gormley, Richard., Hanna, Donncha (2017) 'Physical activity and wellbeing of 8–9 year old children from social disadvantage: An all-Ireland approach to health'. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 13 :9-14 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'A cross-validation study of the TGMD-2: The case of an adolescent population'
Issartel, Johann., McGrane, Bronagh., Fletcher, Richard., O’ Brien, Wesley., Powell, Danielle., & Belton, Sarahjane. (2017) 'A cross-validation study of the TGMD-2: The case of an adolescent population'. Journal of Science and Medicine In Sport, 20 :475-479 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Fundamental movement skill proficiency amongst adolescent youth'
O' Brien, Wesley; Belton, Sarahjane; Issartel, Johann (2016) 'Fundamental movement skill proficiency amongst adolescent youth'. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 21 (6):557-571 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'The relationship between adolescents’ physical activity, fundamental movement skills and weight status'
O' Brien, Wesley; Belton, Sarahjane; Issartel, Johann; (2016) 'The relationship between adolescents’ physical activity, fundamental movement skills and weight status'. Journal of Sports Sciences, 34 (12):1159-1167 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Where does the time go? Patterns of physical activity in adolescent youth'
Belton, Sarahjane; O’ Brien, Wesley; Issartel, Johann; McGrane, Bronagh; Powell, Danielle (2016) 'Where does the time go? Patterns of physical activity in adolescent youth'. Journal of Science and Medicine In Sport, 19 (11):921-925 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Results From Ireland North and South’s 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth'
Harrington, Deirdre. M., Murphy, Marie., Carlin, Angela., Coppinger, Tara., Donnelly, Alan., Dowd, Kieran. P., Keating, Theresa., Murphy, Niamh., Murtagh, Elaine., O' Brien, Wesley., Woods, Catherine., & Belton, Sarahjane. (2016) 'Results From Ireland North and South’s 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth'. The Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 13 (Supplement 2):S183-S188 [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'Promoting physical literacy in Irish adolescent youth: the Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health (Y-PATH) intervention'
O' Brien, Wesley; Belton, Sarahjane; Issartel, Johann (2015) 'Promoting physical literacy in Irish adolescent youth: the Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health (Y-PATH) intervention'. MedCrave Online Journal of Public Health, 2 (6):1-6 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2014) 'Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health: Evidence and background to the development of the Y-PATH physical activity intervention for adolescents'
Belton, Sarahjane; O' Brien, Wesley; Meegan, Sarah; Woods, Catherine; Issartel, Johann (2014) 'Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health: Evidence and background to the development of the Y-PATH physical activity intervention for adolescents'. BMC Public Health, 14 (122) [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2013) 'Evidence for the Efficacy of the Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health (Y-PATH) Intervention'
O' Brien, Wesley; Issartel, Johann; Belton, Sarahjane (2013) 'Evidence for the Efficacy of the Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health (Y-PATH) Intervention'. Advances in Physical Education, 3 (4):145-153 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2013) 'Patterns of Noncompliance in Adolescent Field-Based Accelerometer Research'
Belton, Sarahjane; O' Brien, Wesley; Wickel, Eric E; Issartel, Johann (2013) 'Patterns of Noncompliance in Adolescent Field-Based Accelerometer Research'. The Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 10 (8):1181-1185 [DOI] [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2014) Seventh Physical Education, Physical Activity and Youth Sport (PE PAYS) Forum
O' Brien, Wesley; Issartel, Johann; Meegan, Sarah; Woods, Catherine; Belton, Sarahjane (2014) An overview of the Y-PATH intervention - components and content Seventh Physical Education, Physical Activity and Youth Sport (PE PAYS) Forum [Details]
(2013) Sixth Physical Education, Physical Activity and Youth Sport (PE PAYS) Forum
O' Brien, Wesley; Hegarty, Deirdre; (2013) Current directions in physical activity research in Ireland Sixth Physical Education, Physical Activity and Youth Sport (PE PAYS) Forum [Details]

Published Reports

  Year Publication
(2023) The Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity Study 2022 (CSPPA 2022).
Woods, C.B., Ng, K.W., Britton, U., McClelland, J., O’Keeffe, B., Sheikh, A., McFlynn, P., Murphy, M.H., Goss, H., Behan, S., Philpott, C., Lester, D., Adamakis, M., Costa, J., Coppinger, T., Connolly, S., Belton, S.. and O’Brien, W (2023) The Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity Study 2022 (CSPPA 2022). University of Limerick, Sport Ireland, Healthy Ireland and Sport Northern Ireland, Limerick, Dublin and Belfast. [Details]
(2023) The Gaelic Games youth participation study.
Horgan, P., Donnelly, P., McGourty, P., Donoghue, K., Lane, A., O'Brien, W., McKay, M., Lawler, M., Fogarty, N., Heffernan, J., Harmon, W. (2023) The Gaelic Games youth participation study. Sport Ireland and Healthy Ireland, Dublin. [Details]
(2022) 2022 Active Healthy Kids Ireland. The 2022 Ireland North and South Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents. Long and short form.
Carlin, A., M., Murphy, M., McAvoy, H., Belton, S., Coppinger, T., Cunningham, C., Donnelly, A., Dowd, K., Harrington, D., Murtagh, E., Ng, K., O'Brien, W., Redpath, T., Woods, C., Connolly, S., & Rodriguez, L. (2022) 2022 Active Healthy Kids Ireland. The 2022 Ireland North and South Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents. Long and short form. Dept of Health; Public Health Agency; Institute of Public Health; Sport NI; Sport Ireland, Ireland. [ Publisher's Version] [Details]
(2018) The Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity Study 2018 (CSPPA 2018).
Woods, C.B., Powell, C., Saunders, J.A., O’Brien, W., Murphy, M.H., Duff, C., Farmer, O., Johnston, A., Connelly, S., Belton, S. (2018) The Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity Study 2018 (CSPPA 2018). Sport Ireland and Sport Northern Ireland, Limerick, Dublin & Belfast. [Details]
(2016) Are Our Kids Moving with the Times. The 2016 Ireland North and South Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.
Harrington, Deirdre. M.; Murphy, Marie; Carlin, Angela; Coppinger, Tara; Donnelly, Alan; Dowd, Kieran. P; Keating, Teresa; Murphy, Niamh; Murtagh, Elaine; O' Brien, Wesley; Woods, Catherine; Belton, Sarahajne; (2016) Are Our Kids Moving with the Times. The 2016 Ireland North and South Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth. Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland), Sport Northern Ireland, The Irish Heart Foundation, IPH, Dublin. [Details]

Guest Lectures

  Year Publication
(2017) The importance of childhood motor development – an Irish case study.
O'Brien, Wesley. (2017) The importance of childhood motor development – an Irish case study. University of North Carolina, Greensboro (USA): Guest Lectures [Details]
(2014) A Perspective on Movement in Physical Education.
O' Brien, Wesley (2014) A Perspective on Movement in Physical Education. Mary Immaculate College, Limerick (Ireland): Guest Lectures [Details]

Guest Speaker

  Year Publication
(2016) Developing Children’s Physical Literacy – The First Step of the Journey.
O' Brien, Wesley; McKee, Melanie; Doyle, Johnny; Quinn, Sheelagh; (2016) Developing Children’s Physical Literacy – The First Step of the Journey. Guest Speaker [Details]
(2016) GAA Strength and Conditioning Adolescent Workshops x 3: (Jan-March 2016).
O' Brien, Wesley (2016) GAA Strength and Conditioning Adolescent Workshops x 3: (Jan-March 2016). Guest Speaker [Details]
(2016) Movement Skills Workshop: Cork Primary School Teachers - Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health (Y-PATH).
O' Brien, Wesley (2016) Movement Skills Workshop: Cork Primary School Teachers - Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health (Y-PATH). Guest Speaker [Details]
(2016) GAA Nursery Workshops x 3: Creative Ideas and Modified Games through Fundamental Movement Skills (Jan-March 2016).
O' Brien, Wesley (2016) GAA Nursery Workshops x 3: Creative Ideas and Modified Games through Fundamental Movement Skills (Jan-March 2016). Guest Speaker [Details]
(2015) A Perspective on Movement in Cork Youth G.A.A. Fundamental Movement Skills Workshop: Cork Underage Gaelic Games Coaches, Midleton, Cork.
O' Brien, Wesley; (2015) A Perspective on Movement in Cork Youth G.A.A. Fundamental Movement Skills Workshop: Cork Underage Gaelic Games Coaches, Midleton, Cork. Guest Speaker [Details]
(2015) A Perspective on Movement in Cork Youth G.A.A.
O' Brien, Wesley (2015) A Perspective on Movement in Cork Youth G.A.A. Cork County G.A.A. Board, Cork (Ireland): Guest Speaker [Details]
(2015) Move Well, Move Often: Empowering Female Participation in LGFA – Building the Relationship between Coach and Player.
O' Brien, Wesley (2015) Move Well, Move Often: Empowering Female Participation in LGFA – Building the Relationship between Coach and Player. Ladies Gaelic Football Association, Dublin (Ireland): Guest Speaker [Details]

Newspaper Articles

  Year Publication
(2024) How the art and science of strength and conditioning has transformed Gaelic Games.
Wesley O'Brien; Declan Bogue; (2024) How the art and science of strength and conditioning has transformed Gaelic Games. Newspaper Articles [ Publisher's Version] [Details]
(2024) Wesley O'Brien on taking a modern approach to coaching GAA.
Wesley O'Brien; JJ Hurley; (2024) Wesley O'Brien on taking a modern approach to coaching GAA. Newspaper Articles [ Publisher's Version] [Details]

Online Multimedia

  Year Publication
(2021) International Mens Day Panel Discussion.
Byrne, M.; Cryan, J.; Hurley K.; O'Brien, W.; Saab, M.; Hutch, A. (2021) International Mens Day Panel Discussion. Online Multimedia [Details]
(2020) UCC Teach Digi Q&A Group work (2020, Aug, 12th).
Sophie Gahan, Sarah Thelen, Wesley O'Brien, João Costa (2020) UCC Teach Digi Q&A Group work (2020, Aug, 12th). Online Multimedia [ Publisher's Version] [Details]
(2020) UCC Teach Digi Session Group work (2020, Aug, 10th).
Catherine O'Mahony, João Costa, Wesley O'Brien (2020) UCC Teach Digi Session Group work (2020, Aug, 10th). Online Multimedia [ Publisher's Version] [Details]

Thesis/Dissertation

  Year Publication
(2013) The design, development, implementation and evaluation of the Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health (Y-PATH) intervention.
O' Brien, Wesley; (2013) The design, development, implementation and evaluation of the Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health (Y-PATH) intervention. Thesis/Dissertation [Details]

Video recording / TV

  Year Publication
(2016) Eir Sport Peak Performance – Cork Senior Camogie.
Collins, Niall; Murray, Paudie; O' Brien, Wesley (2016) Eir Sport Peak Performance – Cork Senior Camogie. Video recording / TV [Details]
(2015) Children don’t get enough physical activity.
O' Brien, Wesley; Chambers, F.C. (2015) Children don’t get enough physical activity. Video recording / TV [Details]

Practice Guideline

  Year Publication
(2020) Short Guide 7: Group Work.
Catherine O'Mahony, João Costa, Wesley O'Brien (2020) Short Guide 7: Group Work. Practice Guideline [ Publisher's Version] [Details]

Podcast - Media

  Year Publication
(2024) Developing Children’s Fundamental Movement Skills.
Wesley O'Brien (2024) Developing Children’s Fundamental Movement Skills. Podcast - Media [Details]
(2022) Discussion on the North and South Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents.
O'Brien, Wesley (2022) Discussion on the North and South Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents. Kildare FM (KFM): Podcast - Media [ Publisher's Version] [Details]
(2022) Number 217: A new curriculum model for secondary level: YPATH PE4me. Playing With Research In Health and Physical Education.
Belton, S.; O'Brien, W. (2022) Number 217: A new curriculum model for secondary level: YPATH PE4me. Playing With Research In Health and Physical Education. Podcast - Media [Details]
(2020) Number 133: AIESEP Connect European Physical Education Teacher Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Playing With Research In Health and Physical Education.
O'Brien, Wesley; Costa, João (2020) Number 133: AIESEP Connect European Physical Education Teacher Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Playing With Research In Health and Physical Education. Podcast - Media [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2024 Blended Intensive Programme Student and Staff Exchange Windesheim University of Applied Sciences - The Netherlands Erasmus+
2024 Deakin University Catalyst Visiting Scholar New Zealand Catalyst Funding
2024 Auckland University of Technology Catalyst Visiting Scholar New Zealand Catalyst Funding
2024 National Dissemination of Professional Development Training for In-Service Teachers - Y-PATH PE4Me Programme Irish Heart Foundation
2021 FIEP Europe Thulin Award International Federation of Physical Education (FIEP)
2018 International Research and Teaching Scholar University of Winnipeg, Canada University of Winnipeg
2018 Research Convenor to the European Educational Research Association - Network 18's Research in Sport Pedagogy European Educational Research Association
2017 Elected Board Member to the Physical Education Association of Ireland (PEAI) 2017 to 2019 Physical Education Association of Ireland
2017 Ellen Griffin Scholar University of North Carolina at Greensboro University of North Carolina at Greensboro
2016 Elected Board Member to the Physical Education Association of Ireland (PEAI) Physical Education Association of Ireland
2014 Lecturing Post in Education (Exercise Physiology and Coaching Science) University College Cork
2014 Research Convenor Physical Activity and Active Transport University College Cork
2013 Lecturing Post in Physical Eductaion and Coaching University of Bolton
2013 PhD Dublin City University
2013 Lecturing Post in Nutrition and Weight Management Cork Institute of Technology
2012 Lecturing Post in Physical Education Dublin City University
2012 Daniel O' Hare Scholar Dublin City University
2010 Daniel O' Hare PhD Scholarship Dublin City University
2010 Bachelor of Education in Sports Studies and Physical Education University College Cork
2010 Above and Beyond Award University College Cork
2008 College Scholar University College Cork
2006 College Scholar University College Cork

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
International Physical Literacy Association Active Member /
Irish Sport and Exercise Science Association Champion /
International-Motor Development Research Consortium (I-MDRC) Research Member /
European Educational Research Association (EERA) Network 18 research convenor /
Physical Education, Physical Activity and Youth Sport (PEPAYS) Research Centre Active Member /
Member of the Physical Education Association of Ireland (PEAI) Active Member /
Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) Ireland Active Member /
All Island All Active (AIAA) Research Initiative Active Member /
Centre of Preventive Medicine Active Member /
Fundamental Movement Skills Research Hub Active Member /

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2025) International Motor Skills Acquisition Conference,
Philip E. Kearney, Edward Coughlan, Wesley O’Brien, Paul Kinnerk, Molly Dunne, Donie Buckley, Carla McCabe, Martin Kennedy (2025) Enhancing Skill Development in Gaelic Games: A Toolkit Guide for Coaches of a National Governing Body of Sport in Ireland. [Oral Presentation], International Motor Skills Acquisition Conference, Kisakallio, Lohja, Finland , 26-MAR-25 - 28-MAR-25. [Details]
(2024) 10th International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) Congress,
Kwok Ng, Wesley O’Brien, Catherine Woods (2024) Physical activity inequities exist among adolescents. Low levels of physical activity and sport participation for non-Irish adolescents in Ireland. [Poster Presentation], 10th International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) Congress, Paris, France , 28-OCT-24 - 31-OCT-24. [Details]
(2024) PEAI 2024 Conference,
Wesley O'Brien (2024) Physical Education in Ireland: Past, present and future directions for our subject. [Keynote Speaker], PEAI 2024 Conference, Limerick, Ireland , 04-OCT-24 - 05-OCT-24. [Details]
(2024) 13th Conference of HEPA Europe,
Wesley O’Brien, Glynis Gardiner, Conor Philpott, Irene Hogan (2024) An All-Island Review of the Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others (G4M&O) Programme in Ireland. [Oral Presentation], 13th Conference of HEPA Europe, Dublin, Ireland , 19-AUG-24 - 21-AUG-24. [Details]
(2024) 13th Conference of HEPA Europe,
Angela Carlin, Julia McClelland, Alison Gallagher, Sarahjane Belton, Wesley O’Brien and Marie Murphy (2024) Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health in Northern Ireland (Y-PATH NI) Study: Attitudes towards and experiences of physical activity and physical education. [Oral Presentation], 13th Conference of HEPA Europe, Dublin, Ireland , 19-AUG-24 - 21-AUG-24. [Details]
(2024) 13th Conference of HEPA Europe,
Julia McClelland, Angela Carlin, Alison Gallagher, Sarajane Belton, Wesley O’Brien, Marie Murphy (2024) Development of the Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health in Northern Ireland (Y-PATH NI) Study. [Oral Presentation], 13th Conference of HEPA Europe, Dublin, Ireland , 19-AUG-24 - 21-AUG-24. [Details]
(2024) 13th Conference of HEPA Europe,
Sinead Connolly, Elaine Murtagh, Wesley O’Brien, Hannah Goss (2024) Reflections on Ireland’s Physical Literacy Journey. [Oral Presentation], 13th Conference of HEPA Europe, Dublin, Ireland , 19-AUG-24 - 21-AUG-24. [Details]
(2024) 13th Conference of HEPA Europe,
Úna Britton, Hannah Goss, Stephen Behan, Kwok Ng, Paul McFlynn, Julia McClelland, Catherine Woods, Sinead Connolly, Wesley O'Brien, Sarahjane Belton. (2024) Physical literacy in adolescents with disabilities in Ireland: a cross-sectional study examining effects of disability, age, gender and family affluence on physical literacy. [Oral Presentation], 13th Conference of HEPA Europe, Dublin, Ireland , 19-AUG-24 - 21-AUG-24. [Details]
(2024) PEPAYS Ireland Conference,
João Costa, Wesley O’Brien, Catarina Andrade & Fraser Carson (2024) Exploring The Potential Of The Quality Of Teaching Physical Education Cross-cultural Framework Online Tool: A Case-study From A Physical Education Teacher Education Programme. [Oral Presentation], PEPAYS Ireland Conference, Tralee, Kerry , 07-JUN-24 - 07-JUN-24. [Details]
(2024) Sport Ireland Sports Development Officer Conference,
Glynis Gardiner, Wesley O'Brien, Conor Philpott and Irene Hogan (2024) Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Gaelic4Mothers&Others (G4M&O) Programme in Ireland . [Oral Presentation], Sport Ireland Sports Development Officer Conference, Dublin, Ireland , 28-MAY-24 - 29-MAY-24. [Details]
(2024) Second Case Study of Good Practice Symposium,
Wesley O'Brien, João Costa, João Mota, Conor Philpott (2024) A Case Study on Authentic Assessment and Experiential Learning within a Physical Education and Arts Teacher Education Degree. [Poster Presentation], Second Case Study of Good Practice Symposium, University College Cork, Ireland , 23-MAY-24 - 23-MAY-24. [Details]
(2024) AIESEP 2024 International Conference,
Elaine Murtagh, Sinead Connolly, Hannah Goss, Orlagh Farmer, Sarahjane Belton, Marie Murphy, Kyle Ferguson, Wesley O'Brien (2024) Children and adolescents’ perceptions of physical literacy. [Oral Presentation], AIESEP 2024 International Conference, University of Jyväskylä, Finland , 13-MAY-24 - 17-MAY-24. [Details]
(2024) AIESEP 2024 International Conference,
Lawrence Foweather, Inimfon Essiet, Liezel Hurter, Mike Duncan, Daniel Bingham, Jade Morris, Will Roberts, Kiara Lewis, Hannah Goss, Wesley O'Brien, Andy Daly-Smith, Cara Shearer (2024) Physical Literacy Consensus Statement for England. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], AIESEP 2024 International Conference, University of Jyväskylä, Finland , 13-MAY-24 - 17-MAY-24. [Details]
(2024) Forum on Physical Education – Education on the Move,
O’Brien, Wesley (2024) 'Physical Activity for All’ – physical activity across the lifespan. [Invited Oral Presentation], Forum on Physical Education – Education on the Move, Aviva Stadium, Dublin , 11-APR-24 - 11-APR-24. [Details]
(2023) ATEE WINTER CONFERENCE Teacher Professional Development in Times of Global and Glocal Transformations: International Perspectives and Challenges,
João Costa, Wesley O'Brien, Mark Prendergast, Declan Kennedy, T.J. O'Ceallaigh, Alicia Curtin, Kathy Hall (2023) COLLABORATIVE ALIGNMENT OF MULTIPLE INITIAL TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMME STRUCTURES TO NATIONAL ACCREDITATION STANDARDS AND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK’S ACADEMIC STRATEGY. [Oral Presentation], ATEE WINTER CONFERENCE Teacher Professional Development in Times of Global and Glocal Transformations: International Perspectives and Challenges, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal , 27-OCT-23 - 27-OCT-23. [Details]
(2023) 12th Conference of HEPA Europe,
McClelland, J., Ng, K., Britton, U., Philpott, P., O'Keeffe, B., Sheikhi, A., Behan, S., Lester, D., Adamakis, M., Costa, J., Coppinger, T., Connolly, S., Goss, H., O'Brien, W., McFlynn, P., Murphy, M., Belton, S., & Woods, C. (2023) Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity in the Island of Ireland: A cross-sectional study comparing differences in participation between 2018 and 2022. [Oral Presentation], 12th Conference of HEPA Europe, Leuven (Belgium) , 11-SEP-23 - 13-SEP-23. [Details]
(2023) European Educational Research Association ECER Conference,
Cashman, D., O'Brien, W., & Chambers, F. (2023) Developing School Teachers’ Experiences of Wellbeing: An Actor Network Analysis. [Oral Presentation], European Educational Research Association ECER Conference, Glasgow, Scotland , 22-AUG-23 - 25-AUG-23. [Details]
(2023) International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP) World Congress,
Rocliffe, Padraic; O'Keeffe, Brendan; Walsh, Liam; Sylianou, Michalis; Woodroofe, James; García-González, Luis; O'Brien, Wesley; Coppinger, Tara; Sherwin, Ian; MacNamara, Patricia; MacDonncha, Ciaran. (2023) The impact of typical school provision of physical education, physical activity and sports on adolescent physical activity behaviours. A systematic literature review. [Oral Presentation], International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP) World Congress, Santiago de Chile (Chile) , 04-JUL-23 - 07-JUL-23. [Details]
(2023) International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) Conference,
Duncan, S., Stewart, T., Macintosh, K., Hill, P., Barnett, L., Duncan, M., Jelleyman, C., O’Brien, W., Richards, J., Swain, A., & McNarry, M. (2023) Utilising accelerometry and machine learning to assess children’s fundamental movement skills. [Oral Presentation], International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) Conference, Uppsala (Sweden) , 14-JUN-23 - 17-JUN-23. [Details]
(2023) All-Ireland Postgraduate Conference in Sport Sciences, Physical Activity & Physical Education,
Murphy, O., O’Brien, W., Costa, J., & Mota Rodrigues, J.. (2023) The Effectiveness of a Community-Based, Physical Literacy Intervention for 8 to 12-Year-Old Youth-Sport Participants: Coach Project FLAME. [Poster Presentation], All-Ireland Postgraduate Conference in Sport Sciences, Physical Activity & Physical Education, Cork (Ireland) , 26-MAY-23 - 26-MAY-23. [Details]
(2023) International Motor Development Research Consortium (I-MDRC) Seminar,
O’Brien, W., & Murphy, O. (2023) From Project FLAME to Coach Project FLAME. [Keynote Speaker], International Motor Development Research Consortium (I-MDRC) Seminar, Coventry (England) , 19-MAY-23 - 19-MAY-23. [Details]
(2022) International Motor Skills Acquisition Conference,
Kearney, P., O’Brien, W., Sherwin, I., Ng., K. (2022) Levels of sport specialisation in Irish children and adolescents are associated with family affluence. [Oral Presentation], International Motor Skills Acquisition Conference, Kiskallio (Finland) , 16-NOV-22 - 18-NOV-22. [Details]
(2022) UCC Good Practice Symposium,
Fiona Chambers, João Costa, Jennifer Crowley, Alicia Curtin, Kathy Hall, Declan Kennedy, Marie Nash, T.J. Ó Ceallaigh, Wesley O’Brien, Mark Prendergast, Tara Singleton (2022) Good Practice in Collaborative Alignment of Multiple Initial Teacher Education Programme Structures to National Accreditation Standards and University College Cork’s Academic Strategy. [Poster Presentation], UCC Good Practice Symposium, Cork , 20-OCT-22 - 20-OCT-22. [Details]
(2022) 11th Conference of HEPA Europe,
Rocliffe, P., MacDonncha, C., O’Keeffe, B., Mannix-McNamara, P., Walsh, L., Stylianou, Michalis Wood, J., Garcia, L., Murtagh, E., Sherwin, I., O’Brien, W., & Coppinger, T. (2022) The impact of regular physical education, physical activity and Sport provision in second level schools on adolescent physical activity behaviours. [Poster Presentation], 11th Conference of HEPA Europe, Nice (France) , 31-AUG-22 - 02-SEP-23. [Details]
(2022) European Educational Research Association ECER Conference,
Cashman, D.; Chamber, F.; O’Brien, W. (2022) New School Principals' Experience of Wellbeing: An Actor Network Analysis. [Oral Presentation], European Educational Research Association ECER Conference, Yerevan (Armenia) , 22-AUG-22 - 26-AUG-22. [Details]
(2022) 16th European Congress of Sport and Exercise Psychology (FEPSAC) Congress,
Adamakis, M.; O'Brien, W.; Costa, J.; O' Brien, N.; Dania, A. (2022) Student-athletes’ mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from two European Faculties. [Poster Presentation], 16th European Congress of Sport and Exercise Psychology (FEPSAC) Congress, Padova (Italy) , 11-JUL-22 - 16-JUL-22. [Details]
(2022) PEPAYS Research Forum,
Belton, S., Connolly, S., Peers, C., Goss, H., Murphy, M., Murtagh, E., Kavanagh, J., Corr, M., Ferguson, K., & O’Brien, W. (2022) Are all domains created equal? An exploration of stakeholder views on the concept of physical literacy on the island of Ireland. [Oral Presentation], PEPAYS Research Forum, Limerick (UL) , 11-JUN-22 - 11-JUN-22. [Details]
(2022) PEPAYS Research Forum,
Murphy, O., Belton, S., & O’Brien, W. (2022) Designing and Delivering an Online Coach Education Programme for Youth Sport Coaches: Project FLAME. [Oral Presentation], PEPAYS Research Forum, Limerick (UL) , 11-JUN-22 - 11-JUN-22. [Details]
(2022) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Conference,
Cashman, D.; Chamber, F.; O’Brien, W. (2022) New School Principals' Perspective of Wellbeing. [Oral Presentation], Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Conference, Dublin (Ireland) , 07-APR-22 - 09-APR-22. [Details]
(2022) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Conference,
Cashman, D.; Chamber, F.; O’Brien, W. (2022) Reconceptualising Wellbeing: A Framework for New Schools. [Oral Presentation], Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Conference, Dublin (Ireland) , 07-APR-22 - 09-APR-22. [Details]
(2022) Irish Physical Activity Research Collaboration (I-PARC) Conference Online,
O'Brien, Wesley (2022) Elevating the priority of childhood movement for heightening physical literacy opportunities in schools. [Oral Presentation], Irish Physical Activity Research Collaboration (I-PARC) Conference Online, Ireland , 25-JAN-22 - 28-JAN-22. [Details]
(2021) International Motor Development Research Consortium Online,
O’Brien, W., Khodaverdi, Z., Bolger, L., Tarantino, G., Philpott, C., & Neville, R.D. (2021) The assessment of functional movement in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. [Oral Presentation], International Motor Development Research Consortium Online, Greece , 23-SEP-21 - 25-SEP-21. [Details]
(2021) International Motor Development Research Consortium Online,
Murphy, O., O’Brien, W., & Belton, S. (2021) Designing and delivering an online coach education programme for youth sport coaches: Project FLAME. [Oral Presentation], International Motor Development Research Consortium Online, Greece , 23-SEP-21 - 25-SEP-21. [Details]
(2021) European Educational Research Association ECER Conference,
Cashman, D., Chamber, F., O’Brien, W. (2021) Reconceptualising well-being to develop an ecological framework of organisation for a new Irish primary school. [Oral Presentation], European Educational Research Association ECER Conference, Geneva, Switzerland , 06-SEP-21 - 10-SEP-21. [Details]
(2021) PHE Canada Research Forum Online,
Hall, N.; Robinson, D.; Randall, L.; O’Brien, W. (2021) To assess or not to assess: What is the place for physical literacy assessment in PHE?. [Oral Presentation], PHE Canada Research Forum Online, Canada , 28-APR-21 - 29-APR-21. [Details]
(2021) PHE Canada Research Forum Online,
O'Brien, Wesley; Lester, Diarmuid; (2021) Integrating adolescent motor competence in secondary school physical education in Ireland: Evaluating the effectiveness of Project FLAME. [Oral Presentation], PHE Canada Research Forum Online, Canada , 28-APR-21 - 29-APR-21. [Details]
(2021) 18th Annual Scientific Conference of Montenegrin Sports Academy and 16th FIEP European Congress Online,
O'Brien, Wesley (2021) Prioritising adolescent motor competence in physical education: Evaluating the effectiveness of Project FLAME. [Oral Presentation], 18th Annual Scientific Conference of Montenegrin Sports Academy and 16th FIEP European Congress Online, Dubrovnik (Croatia) , 09-APR-21 - 10-APR-21. [Details]
(2020) PEAI 2020 Conference,
Sarahjane Belton, Antonio Calderón, Wesley O'Brien, João Costa (2020) Physical Education Teacher Education – Connecting with schools. [Invited Lectures (Workshops)], PEAI 2020 Conference, Online , 16-NOV-20. [Details]
(2020) National Assembly International Motor Development Research Consortium,
O'Brien, Wesley; Lester, Diarmuid. (2020) A school-based intervention to improve functional movement and fundamental movement skills in adolescent youth: Evaluating the effectiveness of Project FLAME. [Oral Presentation], National Assembly International Motor Development Research Consortium, South Carolina, USA , 11-OCT-20 - 13-OCT-20. [Details]
(2020) National Assembly International Motor Development Research Consortium,
O'Brien, Wesley; Donovan, Brian; (2020) An Investigation of Fundamental Movement Skills and Functional Movement in Irish Adolescents: Proficiency Levels and Relatedness. [Oral Presentation], National Assembly International Motor Development Research Consortium, South Carolina, USA , 11-OCT-20 - 13-OCT-20. [Details]
(2020) UK and Ireland Children’s Motor Competence Network,
Lester, D., Belton, S., & O’Brien, W. (2020) Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Project FLAME Non-Randomised Controlled Trial: A Multi-Component, School-Based Motor Competence Intervention for Adolescent Youth in Ireland. [Oral Presentation], UK and Ireland Children’s Motor Competence Network, Liverpool , 08-JAN-20 - 08-JAN-20. [Details]
(2020) UK and Ireland Children’s Motor Competence Network,
Donovan, B, Philpott, C, Belton, S., Lester, D, & O’Brien, W. (2020) The Refinement and Development of the Project FLAME Movement Oriented Intervention in Ireland. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], UK and Ireland Children’s Motor Competence Network, Liverpool , 08-JAN-20 - 08-JAN-20. [Details]
(2020) UK and Ireland Children’s Motor Competence Network,
Philpott, C, Donovan, B, Belton, S., Lester, D, & O’Brien, W. (2020) Project FLAME- Exploring a new avenue for PMC. [Poster Presentation], UK and Ireland Children’s Motor Competence Network, Liverpool , 08-JAN-20 - 08-JAN-20. [Details]
(2019) Challenging mental health systems: Critical perspectives from inside out and outside in. Critical Voices conference,
O’ Brien, N., & O’Brien, W. (2019) Increasing mental fitness – Intervention design and positive mental health education for Higher Education Students. [Oral Presentation], Challenging mental health systems: Critical perspectives from inside out and outside in. Critical Voices conference, Cork , 13-NOV-19 - 13-NOV-19. [Details]
(2019) Healthy and Active Children Conference organised by I-MDRC & CIAPSE,
O’Brien, W; Lester, D; Donovan, B; Philpott, C; Duncan, M; Belton, S; (2019) Putting a focused lens on Irish adolescent movement skill proficiency’ as part of the ‘Fundamental movement skill proficiency across childhood – an Irish and UK perspective’ symposium. [Oral Presentation], Healthy and Active Children Conference organised by I-MDRC & CIAPSE, Verona , 13-SEP-19. [Details]
(2019) Healthy and Active Children Conference organised by I-MDRC & CIAPSE,
Lester, D, & O’Brien, W. (2019) The rationale and effectiveness of Project FLAME: A multi-component, school-based motor competence intervention for adolescent youth in Ireland. [Oral Presentation], Healthy and Active Children Conference organised by I-MDRC & CIAPSE, Verona, Italy , 13-SEP-19 - 13-SEP-19. [Details]
(2019) European Educational Research Association ECER Conference,
O’Brien, W; Farmer, O; Cahill, K; (2019) ‘‘Gaelic4Girls’ - A Novel Sport Pedagogy Programme For Increased Physical Activity Participation’. [Oral Presentation], European Educational Research Association ECER Conference, Hamburg , 03-SEP-19 - 06-SEP-19. [Details]
(2019) European Congress of Sports Science,
O'Brien, W; (2019) Optimising Childhood Movement in Ireland; the Fundamental ‘Building Blocks’ as part of the invited session on the ‘advances in understanding the role of fundamental movement skills on children’s physical activity, health and academic achievement. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], European Congress of Sports Science, Prague , 03-JUL-19 - 06-JUL-19. [Details]
(2019) International Physical Literacy Conference,
O'Brien, W; (2019) Elevating the Priority of Childhood Movement in Ireland for Heightening Physical Literacy Opportunities. [Oral Presentation], International Physical Literacy Conference, Winnipeg , 08-MAY-19 - 10-MAY-19. [Details]
(2019) International Physical Literacy Conference,
Farmer, O; O’Brien, W; Cahill, K; (2019) Gaelic4Girls’ - a multi-component, community sports-based programme for increased physical activity participation. [Poster Presentation], International Physical Literacy Conference, Winnipeg , 08-MAY-19 - 10-MAY-19. [Details]
(2019) PHE Canada Research Council Forum,
O'Brien, W; (2019) Putting a focused lens on Irish adolescent movement skill proficiency in Physical Education. [Oral Presentation], PHE Canada Research Council Forum, Montreal , 02-MAY-19 - 04-MAY-19. [Details]
(2019) PHE Canada Research Council Forum,
Farmer, O; O’Brien, W; Cahill, K; (2019) Gaelic4Girls’ (G4G) – evaluating the effectiveness of a 10-week multi-component community-sports based physical activity intervention for 8-12-year-old girls. [Oral Presentation], PHE Canada Research Council Forum, Montreal , 02-MAY-19 - 04-MAY-19. [Details]
(2019) PHE Canada Research Council Forum,
O’Brien, W; Philpott, C; Donovan, B; Lester, D; (2019) Evaluating and Developing Project FLAME (Fundamental & Functional Literacy For Activity and Movement Efficiency. [Poster Presentation], PHE Canada Research Council Forum, Montreal , 02-MAY-19 - 04-MAY-19. [Details]
(2018) PEPAYS Research Forum,
O’Brien, W; Lester, D; (2018) Intervention process and preliminary findings of Project FLAME. [Oral Presentation], PEPAYS Research Forum, Limerick (Ireland) , 24-NOV-18. [Details]
(2018) PEPAYS Research Forum,
O’Brien, W; Belton, S; McGann, J; Issartel, J; (2018) Y-PATH: Targeting Childhood Physical Activity through Physical Education. [Oral Presentation], PEPAYS Research Forum, Limerick (Ireland) , 24-NOV-18. [Details]
(2018) PEPAYS Research Forum,
Powell, C; Woods, C; Saunders, J; Belton, S; O’Brien, W; Murphy, M; (2018) The Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity Study (CSPPA17-18). [Oral Presentation], PEPAYS Research Forum, Limerick (Ireland) , 24-NOV-18. [Details]
(2018) PEPAYS Research Forum,
Farmer, O; Cahill, K; O’Brien, W; (2018) ‘Gaelic4Girls’ (G4G) - a multi-component community sports-based exploratory intervention for increased physical activity participation.’. [Poster Presentation], PEPAYS Research Forum, Limerick (Ireland) , 24-NOV-18. [Details]
(2018) PEPAYS Research Forum,
Philpott, C; Donovan, B; Belton, S; O’Brien, W; (2018) To evaluate the efficacy of the Project FLAME intervention in the development of adolescent physical literacy. [Poster Presentation], PEPAYS Research Forum, Limerick (Ireland) , 24-NOV-18. [Details]
(2018) International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress,
O'Brien, Wesley. (2018) Optimising childhood movement in Ireland: The fundamental ‘building blocks. [Poster Presentation], International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress, London, United Kingdom , 15-OCT-18. [Details]
(2018) International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress,
Farmer, Orlagh; O’Brien, Wesley; Cahill, Kevin. (2018) Gaelic4Girls’ for increased physical activity participation - a multi-component, pilot intervention: study design and protocol. [Poster Presentation], International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress, London, United Kingdom , 15-OCT-18. [Details]
(2018) International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress,
O'Brien, N., O'Brien, W., & Lawlor, M. (2018) The prevalence of wellbeing, resilience and physical activity among third level pre-service teacher educators in Ireland. [Poster Presentation], International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress, London, United Kingdom , 15-OCT-18. [Details]
(2018) International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress,
Lester, Diarmuid; O'Brien, Wesley. (2018) Project FLAME: A multi-component, school-based, movement intervention in Ireland. [Poster Presentation], International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress, London, United Kingdom , 15-OCT-18. [Details]
(2018) Physical Education, Physical Activity and Youth Sport Research Forum,
Lester, Diarmuid; O'Brien, Wesley. (2018) Intervention process and preliminary findings of Project FLAME. [Oral Presentation], Physical Education, Physical Activity and Youth Sport Research Forum, Limerick, Ireland , 05-SEP-18. [Details]
(2018) International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP) World Congress,
Belton, S., O’ Brien, W., Meegan, S., Issartel, J & Clarke, H. (2018) Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health (Y-PATH) Physical Education: Meeting the needs of Irish teachers and students in second-level schools. [Oral Presentation], International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP) World Congress, Edinburgh, Scotland , 26-JUL-18. [Details]
(2018) European Congress of Sport Science,
Belton, S., O’ Brien, W., Meegan, S., Issartel, J, McGann, J, & Clarke, H. (2018) Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health (Y-PATH) Physical Education: Meeting the needs of Irish teachers and students in second-level schools. [Oral Presentation], European Congress of Sport Science, Dublin, Ireland , 05-JUL-18. [Details]
(2018) The North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity Conference,
Lester, Diarmuid; O'Brien, Wesley. (2018) The development of Project FLAME – a multi-component, school based movement intervention for adolescents in Ireland. [Poster Presentation], The North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity Conference, Denver, Colorado, USA , 21-JUN-18. [Details]
(2018) The North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity Conference,
Farmer, Orlagh; O’Brien, Wesley (2018) Gaelic4Girls’for increased physical activity participation – a multi-component, pilot intervention: Study design and protocol. [Poster Presentation], The North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity Conference, Denver, Colorado, USA , 21-JUN-18. [Details]
(2018) Children’s motor competence and its impact on physical activity, exercise sport and health,
O'Brien, Wesley. (2018) Overview of Research Activity at UCC. [Oral Presentation], Children’s motor competence and its impact on physical activity, exercise sport and health, Coventry University . [Details]
(2017) GAA Youth Forum,
O'Brien, Wesley., Farmer, Orlagh. (2017) Balancing Lifestyle Demands. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], GAA Youth Forum, Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland . [Details]
(2017) Manchester’s 6th International Suicide Bereavement Conference,
O' Brien, Wesley (2017) Let's get PHYSICAL: A sustainable pathway for positive health and wellbeing. [Keynote Speaker], Manchester’s 6th International Suicide Bereavement Conference, Printworks, Manchester, United Kingdom , 27-SEP-17. [Details]
(2017) Wellbeing at Work - ­A Design Thinking Approach -­ Building Resilience through Mental Fitness,
O' Brien, Wesley (2017) Let's get PHYSICAL – Inside and outside of the workplace:  A pathway for positive health and wellbeing. [Invited Lectures (Workshops)], Wellbeing at Work - ­A Design Thinking Approach -­ Building Resilience through Mental Fitness, Institute of Chartered Accountants Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Dublin , 22-SEP-17. [Details]
(2017) Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service Conference,
O' Brien, Wesley (2017) ‘Let's get PHYSICAL: A ‘gritty’ pathway for positive health and wellbeing across the lifespan.’. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service Conference, Manchester , 13-SEP-17. [Details]
(2017) 22nd Annual National Association or Psychiatric Intensive Care and Low Secure Units (NAPICU) Conference,
O' Brien, Wesley (2017) Therapy in Acute Psychiatric Recovery: Physical Exercise, Sport in Mental Health. [Invited Oral Presentation], 22nd Annual National Association or Psychiatric Intensive Care and Low Secure Units (NAPICU) Conference, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin , 07-SEP-17. [Details]
(2017) PEPAYS Research Forum,
Farmer, Orlagh., O’Brien, Wesley., Cahill, Kevin (2017) Enhancing the evidence-base for Irish female adolescent’s participation in physical activity – the development of the ‘Gaelic for Girls’ programme. [Oral Presentation], PEPAYS Research Forum, University of Limerick, Limerick , 16-JUN-17. [Details]
(2017) International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) Conference,
Farmer, Orlagh., O’Brien, Wesley., Cahill, Kevin. (2017) The Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation of the Gaelic4Girl’s Programme. [Poster Presentation], International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) Conference, Victoria, Canada , 08-JUN-17. [Details]
(2017) International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) Conference,
O' Brien, Wesley., McGrane, Bronagh (2017) Fundamental & Functional Movement Literacy. [Invited Lectures (Workshops)], International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) Conference, Victoria, Canada , 07-JUN-17. [Details]
(2016) Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) Europe Conference,,
O' Brien, Wesley (2016) Physically Active, Physically Educated and Physically Literate: The Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health (Y-PATH) Intervention. [Oral Presentation], Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) Europe Conference,, Belfast . [Details]
(2016) Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) Europe Conference,
O' Brien, Wesley (2016) Rationale, Study Protocol & Methodological Considerations. [Oral Presentation], Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) Europe Conference, Belfast . [Details]
(2016) Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) Europe Conference,
O' Brien, Wesley (2016) Fundamental and Functional Literacy for Activity and Movement Efficiency. [Oral Presentation], Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) Europe Conference, Belfast . [Details]
(2016) 21st Annual National Association or Psychiatric Intensive Care and Low Secure Units (NAPICU) Conference,
O' Brien, Wesley (2016) Positive Association of Sport and Mental Health Care. [Invited Oral Presentation], 21st Annual National Association or Psychiatric Intensive Care and Low Secure Units (NAPICU) Conference, University of Keele, Stoke, United Kingdom , 09-SEP-16. [Details]
(2016) Physical Education Association of Ireland (PEAI),
O' Brien, Wesley (2016) Creative Ideas and Modified Games through Fundamental Movement Skills. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Physical Education Association of Ireland (PEAI), Cork . [Details]
(2016) International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) Conference,
Belton, Sarahjane; McGrane, Bronagh; O’ Brien, Wesley; Woods, Catherine; Meegan, Sarah; Powell, Danielle; Issartel, Johann (2016) Understanding our situation, and using what we have: The case of the Y-PATH intervention. [Oral Presentation], International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) Conference, Cape Town, South Africa . [Details]
(2016) International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA),
O' Brien, Wesley; McGrane, Bronagh; Issartel, Johann; Foweather, Lawrence (2016) ‘Move Well, Move Often’: Joint conference presentation on childhood fundamental movement skills. [Invited Lectures (Workshops)], International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA), Cape Town , 08-JUN-16 - 11-JUN-16. [Details]
(2016) International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) Conference,
Farmer, Orlagh; O' Brien, Wesley; Cahill, Kevin; (2016) Gaelic4Girls: Background and methodological considerations in the development of the G4G physical activity intervention for Irish girls. [Poster Presentation], International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) Conference, Cape Town, South Africa . [Details]
(2016) International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) Conference,
Lester, Diarmuid; O' Brien, Wesley (2016) ‘Improve My Move': Background and methodological considerations in the development of an Irish youth movement programme. [Oral Presentation], International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) Conference, Cape Town, South Africa . [Details]
(2016) AHECS Biennial Conference,
O' Brien, Wesley (2016) A ‘gritty’ pathway for positive health and wellbeing across the lifespan. [Keynote Speaker], AHECS Biennial Conference, UCC and Cork Institute of Technology, Cork (Ireland) , 01-JUN-16 - 02-JUN-16. [Details]
(2016) CACSSS Postgraduate Conference,
Lester, Diarmuid; O' Brien, Wesley; (2016) Project FLAME - ‘Fundamental and Functional Literacy for Activity and Movement Efficiency. [Oral Presentation], CACSSS Postgraduate Conference, UCC, Cork (Ireland) . [Details]
(2016) PhD Symposium: At the Forefront of Contemporary Research with Children and Young People in Ireland,
Lester, Diarmuid; O' Brien, Wesley; (2016) ‘Improve My Move': Background and methodological considerations in the development of an Irish youth movement programme. [Oral Presentation], PhD Symposium: At the Forefront of Contemporary Research with Children and Young People in Ireland, Maynooth, Kildare . [Details]
(2016) PhD Symposium: At the Forefront of Contemporary Research with Children and Young People in Ireland,
Farmer, Orlagh; O' Brien, Wesley; Cahill, Kevin (2016) Gaelic4Girls: Background and methodological considerations in the development of the G4G physical activity intervention for Irish girls. [Oral Presentation], PhD Symposium: At the Forefront of Contemporary Research with Children and Young People in Ireland, Maynooth, Kildare . [Details]
(2016) PEPAYS Research Forum,
Lester, Diarmuid; O' Brien, Wesley (2016) Project FLAME - ‘Fundamental and Functional Literacy for Activity and Movement Efficiency’. [Oral Presentation], PEPAYS Research Forum, Tralee (Ireland) , 30-MAY-16 - 30-MAY-16. [Details]
(2016) PEPAYS Research Forum,
Farmer, Orlagh; O' Brien, Wesley; Cahill, Kevin (2016) ‘Gaelic for Girls’: Rationale, study protocol and methodological considerations. [Poster Presentation], PEPAYS Research Forum, Tralee (Ireland) , 30-MAY-16 - 30-MAY-16. [Details]
(2016) Psychology, Health & Medicine Conference Transitions in Health,
Farmer, Orlagh; O' Brien, Wesley; Cahill, Kevin (2016) ‘Gaelic for Girls’: Rationale, study protocol and methodological considerations. [Poster Presentation], Psychology, Health & Medicine Conference Transitions in Health, UCC, Cork (Ireland) , 27-MAY-16 - 27-MAY-16. [Details]
(2016) All Ireland Postgraduate Conference in Sport Sciences & Physical Education,
Lester, Diarmuid; O' Brien, Wesley (2016) Project FLAME - ‘Fundamental and Functional Literacy for Activity and Movement Efficiency’. [Oral Presentation], All Ireland Postgraduate Conference in Sport Sciences & Physical Education, Waterford (Ireland) , 29-APR-16 - 29-APR-16. [Details]
(2016) All Ireland Postgraduate Conference in Sport Sciences & Physical Education,
Farmer, Orlagh; O' Brien, Wesley; Cahill, Kevin (2016) ‘Gaelic for Girls’: Rationale, study protocol and methodological considerations. [Poster Presentation], All Ireland Postgraduate Conference in Sport Sciences & Physical Education, Waterford (Ireland) , 29-APR-16 - 29-APR-16. [Details]
(2016) Early Childhood Ireland Conference,
Duff, Christina; Issartel, Johann; O' Brien, Wesley; O' Connor, Lorraine; McMeel, Ellen; Belton, Sarahjane (2016) The 'Kids Active' Study: Physical Activity and Fundamental Movement Skills in Preschool Children. [Poster Presentation], Early Childhood Ireland Conference, Dublin (Ireland) , 15-APR-16 - 16-APR-16. [Details]
(2016) State of Mind Ireland Conference,
O' Brien, Wesley; Lawlor, Susan (2016) Let's get physical: A sustainable pathway for positive health and wellbeing. [Keynote Speaker], State of Mind Ireland Conference, Belfast (Ireland) , 18-FEB-16 - 18-FEB-16. [Details]
(2015) CACSSS Postgraduate Conference,
Farmer, Orlagh; O' Brien, Wesley; Cahill, Kevin (2015) The design, development, implementation and evaluation of the ‘Gaelic4Girls’ programme. [Oral Presentation], CACSSS Postgraduate Conference, UCC, Cork (Ireland) , 04-DEC-15 - 04-DEC-15. [Details]
(2015) CACSSS Postgraduate Conference,
Lester, Diarmuid; O' Brien, Wesley (2015) Project FLAME - ‘Fundamental and Functional Literacy for Activity and Movement Efficiency’. [Oral Presentation], CACSSS Postgraduate Conference, UCC, Cork (Ireland) , 04-DEC-15 - 04-DEC-15. [Details]
(2015) 8th Annual CRSI Conference - Changing conversations: Changing lives sport, identity & mental health,
O' Brien, Wesley; Lawlor, Martin (2015) Let's get physical: A sustainable pathway for positive health and wellbeing. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], 8th Annual CRSI Conference - Changing conversations: Changing lives sport, identity & mental health, Cork (Ireland) , 10-JUN-15. [Details]
(2015) PEPAYS Research Forum,
McGrane, Bronagh; Issartel, Johann; Fletcher, Richard; Powell, Danielle; O’Brien, Wesley; Belton, Sarahjane (2015) Lack of fundamental movement skills proficiency: can we override it?. [Poster Presentation], PEPAYS Research Forum, Limerick (Ireland) , 09-JUN-15. [Details]
(2015) International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity,
O’Brien, Wesley; Breslin, Gavin; Brennan, Deirdre; Lee, Benjamin; Shannon, Stephen; McCullagh, Darryl; Chambers, Fiona; Woods, Catherine; Belton, Sarahjane; Donnelly, Paul; Smyth, Peter; McCaffrey, Patricia; Hannon, Stephen; & Hanna, Donncha (2015) An “All Island” approach to physical activity and wellbeing amongst Irish children: The Sport for Life All Island Intervention. [Poster Presentation], International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Edinburgh (Scotland) , 03-JUN-15 - 06-JUN-15. [Details]
(2015) International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity,
O’Brien, Wesley; Burns, Con; Coughlan, Edward; Coppinger, Tara; Bolger, Linda; Bolger, Lisa; O’Neill, Cian (2015) I can walk, I can talk but… I just can’t JUMP?” – Movement skill proficiency amongst primary school children in Ireland. [Poster Presentation], International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Edinburgh (Scotland) , 03-JUN-15 - 06-JUN-15. [Details]
(2015) Liberty Insurance GAA Games Development Conference,
O' Brien, Wesley; Harte, Elaine (2015) Empowering Players - Building the relationship between the Coach and the Player. [Invited Oral Presentation], Liberty Insurance GAA Games Development Conference, Croke Park, Dublin . [Details]
(2014) Physical Education Association of Ireland,
O' Brien, Wesley; (2014) A perspective on movement in physical education. [Invited Oral Presentation], Physical Education Association of Ireland, Limerick (Ireland) . [Details]
(2014) Physical Education Association of Ireland,
O' Brien, Wesley; Belton, Sarahjane; (2014) You know the drill, let's integrate the fundamental movement skill. [Invited Lectures (Workshops)], Physical Education Association of Ireland, Limerick (Ireland) . [Details]
(2014) European Conference on Educational Research,
Chambers, Fiona; Brennan, Deirdre; Breslin, Gavin; O' Brien, Wesley (2014) All Island All Active: Using a hybrid architecture to promote lifelong physical activity. [Oral Presentation], European Conference on Educational Research, Porto, Portugal , 01-SEP-14 - 05-SEP-14. [Details]
(2014) European Congress of Sports Science (ECSS),
O' Brien, Wesley; Belton, Sarahjane; McGrane, Bronagh; Powell, Danielle; Issartel, Johann; (2014) Age is just a number, maturity in movement is a choice. [Oral Presentation], European Congress of Sports Science (ECSS), Amsterdam (Holland) . [Details]
(2014) European Congress of Sports Science (ECSS),
Powell, Danielle; Issartel, Johann; McGrane, Bronagh; O' Brien, Wesley; Belton, Sarahjane (2014) Understanding adolescent sedentary behaviour using accelerometry and self-report. [Oral Presentation], European Congress of Sports Science (ECSS), Amsterdam (Holland) . [Details]
(2014) PEPAYS Research Forum,
O' Brien, Wesley; Belton, Sarahjane; McGrane, Bronagh; Powell, Danielle; Issartel, Johann; (2014) The “durability” of physical activity promotion amongst Irish adolescent youth: A structured pathway for ensuring sustainability. [Oral Presentation], PEPAYS Research Forum, Waterford, Ireland . [Details]
(2014) PEPAYS Research Forum,
Powell, Danielle; Issartel, Johann; McGrane, Bronagh; O' Brien, Wesley; Belton, Sarahjane (2014) An analysis of adolescent sedentary behaviour using accelerometry and self-report. [Poster Presentation], PEPAYS Research Forum, Waterford (Ireland) , 05-JUN-14 - 06-JUN-14. [Details]
(2014) All Ireland Postgraduate Conference in Sport Sciences & Physical Education,
McGrane, Bronagh; Belton, Sarahjane; O’ Brien, Wesley; Issartel, Johann (2014) Fundamental movement skill proficiency levels of Irish adolescent youth. [Oral Presentation], All Ireland Postgraduate Conference in Sport Sciences & Physical Education, Limerick (Ireland) , 24-JAN-14. [Details]
(2014) All Ireland Postgraduate Conference in Sport Sciences & Physical Education,
Powell, Danielle; Issartel, Johann; McGrane, Bronagh; O' Brien, Wesley; Belton, Sarahjane (2014) Patterns of physical activity in adolescent youth as measured by accelerometer. [Poster Presentation], All Ireland Postgraduate Conference in Sport Sciences & Physical Education, Limerick (Ireland) , 24-JAN-14. [Details]
(2014) Early Childhood Conference,
O' Brien, Wesley; (2014) Fundamental Movement Skills Across the Lifespan. [Invited Lectures (Workshops)], Early Childhood Conference, Dublin (Ireland) . [Details]
(2013) Physical Education Association of Ireland,
O' Brien, Wesley; Belton, Sarahjane; Holland, Eimear; Woods, Catherine; (2013) Practical Strategies for Teaching and Assessing Health Related Fitness/Activity. [Invited Lectures (Workshops)], Physical Education Association of Ireland, Waterford (Ireland) . [Details]
(2013) PEPAYS Research Forum,
O' Brien, Wesley; Issartel, Johann; Meegan, Sarah; Woods, Catherine; Belton, Sarahjane (2013) The evaluation of the Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health (Y-PATH) intervention. [Oral Presentation], PEPAYS Research Forum, Dublin (Ireland) . [Details]
(2013) PEPAYS Research Forum,
McGrane, Bronagh; Belton, Sarahjane; O' Brien, Wesley; Issartel, Johann (2013) Fundamental movement skill age equivalence of Irish adolescent youth. [Poster Presentation], PEPAYS Research Forum, Dublin (Ireland) , 13-JUN-13 - 14-JUN-13. [Details]
(2013) International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) Conference,
O' Brien, Wesley; Issartel, Johann; Belton, Sarahjane (2013) A whole school approach in the implementation of the “Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health” intervention. [Poster Presentation], International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) Conference, Ghent (Belgium) . [Details]
(2013) European Child Health Conference,
O' Brien, Wesley; Issartel, Johann; Belton, Sarahjane (2013) A disturbing childhood trend towards high daily screen time can be interrupted through the effective implementation of the Youth Physical Activity Towards Health (Y-PATH) intervention. [Poster Presentation], European Child Health Conference, Dublin (Ireland) . [Details]
(2013) Learning to Move, Moving to Learn,
O' Brien, Wesley; Kirwan, Kathy; (2013) Engaging Teenagers. [Invited Lectures (Workshops)], Learning to Move, Moving to Learn, Cork (Ireland) . [Details]
(2013) Learning to Move, Moving to Learn,
O' Brien, Wesley; Issartel, Johann; Belton, Sarahjane (2013) The effectiveness of the “Y-PATH” intervention in promoting adolescent fundamental movement skill proficiency. [Poster Presentation], Learning to Move, Moving to Learn, Cork (Ireland) . [Details]
(2012) European Youth Heart Symposium (EYHS),
O' Brien, Wesley; Issartel, Johann; Belton, Sarahjane (2012) Gender and school type differences in objectively measured physical activity in early adolescent youth. [Oral Presentation], European Youth Heart Symposium (EYHS), Madeira (Portugal) . [Details]
(2012) European Youth Heart Symposium (EYHS),
O' Brien, Wesley; Issartel, Johann; Belton, Sarahjane (2012) “Health Related Activity” and “Fundamental Movement Skills” for physical activity promotion in Irish second level education. [Oral Presentation], European Youth Heart Symposium (EYHS), Madeira (Portugal) . [Details]
(2012) Health Enhancing Physical Activity Conference (HEPA),
O' Brien, Wesley; Issartel, Johann; Belton, Sarahjane (2012) The “Health Benefits” of the relationship between physical activity, fundamental movement skills and body mass index in adolescent youth. [Poster Presentation], Health Enhancing Physical Activity Conference (HEPA), Cardiff (Wales) . [Details]
(2012) PEPAYS Research Forum,
O' Brien, Wesley; Issartel, Johann; Meegan, Sarah; Woods, Catherine; Belton, Sarahjane (2012) Youth-Physical Activity Towards Health (Y-PATH). [Oral Presentation], PEPAYS Research Forum, Limerick (Ireland) . [Details]
(2011) International Conference on Ambulatory Monitoring of Physical Activity (ICAMPAM),
Belton, Sarahjane; O' Brien, Wesley; Issartel, Johann; (2011) Subject Compliance in field based motion sensor research. [Poster Presentation], International Conference on Ambulatory Monitoring of Physical Activity (ICAMPAM), Glasgow (Scotland) . [Details]
(2011) International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP),
Belton, Sarahjane; O' Brien, Wesley; Issartel, Johann; (2011) Physical activity level and motor skill mastery of Irish youth: influence of gender. [Oral Presentation], International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP), Limerick (Ireland) . [Details]
(2011) International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP),
O' Brien, Wesley; Duff, Cristina; Issartel, Johann; Belton, Sarahjane; (2011) Y-PATH - Youth Physical Activity Towards Health. [Poster Presentation], International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP), Limerick (Ireland) . [Details]

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
College Academic Development Committee Committee Member 2025 /
School of Education Research and Innovation Committee Member 2024 / 2025
Cork Sports Partnership Board of Directors 2024 /
School of Education Teaching and Learning Committee Member 2024 / 2025
School of Education Global Engagement Committee Member 2024 / 2025
CACSSS Graduate Studies Committee Member 2023 / 2024
Undergraduate Initial Teacher Education Working Group Member 2023 /
UCC Staff Wellbeing Team - Led by Human Resources Department Member 2019 / 2025
UCC Sport Strategy Physical Activity Committee Chair 2018 / 2025
School of Education Community Engagement Committee Chair 2018 / 2024
School of Education Graduate Studies Committee Member 2018 / 2025
CACSSS Community Engagement School of Education Representative 2017 / 2024
UCC Health Matters Member for Physical Activity and Active Transport 2015 / 2025

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
University College Cork Full-Time Lecturer 01-JAN-14 /
University of Bolton Full-Time Lecturer 01-SEP-13 / 31-DEC-13
Munster Technological University Part-Time Lecturer 01-JAN-13 / 30-JUN-13
Dublin City University Part-Time Lecturer 01-SEP-10 / 31-DEC-12
Ballincollig Community School Physical Education Teacher 01-SEP-09 / 30-JUN-10

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2013 Dublin City University PHD Youth Physical Activity Promotion
2010 University College Cork BACHELOR OF EDUCATOIN Sports Studies and Physical Education

Languages

  Language Reading Writing Speaking
English Fluent Fluent Fluent

Outreach Activities

  Description

January 2025: Fundamental Movement Skills, Athletic Development and Physical Literacy Seminars for Gaelic Games Coaches Killeagh GAA Club.

December 2024 - Fundamental Movement Skills Seminar for Gaelic Games Coaches Kilrossanty GAA Club.

August 2024 - Invited Speaker to Kinsale Community School Your Leaving Certificate Journey.

December 2023 - Physical Literacy Seminar for Gaelic Games Coaches Glanworth GAA Club.

December 2023 - Coaching in Education for Leadership, Learning and Teaching: A motion coaching method.

31st October 2018 - Visiting Scholar at the University of Winnipeg on 'Putting Physical Literacy on the map with Irish Children and Youth'.

11th April 2017 - Visiting Scholar at UNCG on 'The importance of childhood motor development – an Irish case study'

2016: Coached the Cork Senior Camogie team (Jan to Sept 2016). In September 2016, I was appointed coach of the UCC Senior Camogie team (Sept 2016 to Feb 2017). 

2015: Organised, facilitated and led the staff physical activity promotion classes in the Aula Maxima (Nov to Dec 2015), as part of my on-going collaboration with UCC Health Matters.

2014: Convenor for Physical Activity and Active Transport Hub within University College Cork's Health Matters. The purpose is to develop initiatives and sustainable programmes for the increase of physical activity, health and wellbeing among students and staff. University College Cork (Ireland).

2014: Desk to Campus 5km Fun Run. Helped recruit students for 5km fun run in aid of UCC Health Matters. University College Cork (Ireland).

2013: Physical Literacy workshop for undergraduate physical education students. Workshop relating to the theme of ‘engaging teenagers’ through fundamental movement skills and physical literacy for undergraduate physical education students. University College Cork (Ireland).

2013: Assistant Module Advisor in Childhood Physical Activity. Assistant advisor for module relating to childhood physical activity beginning in Cork Institute of Technology (Ireland).

2012/13: Health awareness workshops for post-primary students with Dr. Sarahjane Belton, Dr. Johann Issartel and Ms. Bronagh McGrane. The health benefits of regular physical activity, balanced diet and reduced sitting time. Kildare and Dublin post-primary schools (Ireland).

2011-13: Health promotion seminars for teachers, parents and students with Dr. Sarahjane Belton and Dr. Johann Issartel. Physical activity, physical literacy and sedentary behaviour awareness presentations. Wicklow (Ireland).

2011: Research Presentations to International University Students. Descriptive overview of PhD research and baseline findings for international university students. Dublin City University (Ireland).

2009/10: Special Olympics Volunteer Work and Cope Foundation Programme with Dr. Susan Crawford. Hosted a fundraising event for Special Olympics Ireland and spent 3 months working closely with Special Educational Needs children developing fundamental movement skill programmes. University College Cork (Ireland).

Journal Activities

  Journal Role To / From
Plos One Referee -
European Journal Of Teacher Education Referee -
Sports Medicine - Open Referee -
Curriculum Studies In Health And Physical Education Referee -
Children-Basel Referee -
Bmc Public Health Referee -
Journal Of Sport And Health Science Referee -
Frontiers In Medicine Referee -
Preventive Medicine Reports Referee -
British Journal Of Sport Medicine Referee -
Journal Of Motor Learning And Development Referee -
Journal Of Science And Medicine In Sport Referee -
Medicine And Science In Sports And Exercise Referee -
Journal Of Sports Sciences Referee -
Irish Educational Studies Referee -
Journal Of Motor Behavior Referee -
The Journal Of Physical Activity And Health Referee -
Preventive Medicine Referee -
Perceptual And Motor Skills Referee -
European Physical Education Review Referee -

Other Activities

  Description

2025: Coach to the Cork Senior Camogie Team

2024: Chaired a PhD Viva Voce on the 10th June, 2024. 

2023 and 2024: Facilitator of the University of North Carolina Greensboro Study Abroad Programme in UCC.

2023 and 2024: Athletic Development Coach of the Cork Senior Camogie Team, which won the All-Ireland Championhsip in the respective 2023 and 2024 seasons.

2023: External Consultant MSc Physical Literacy in Children and Young People at Edge Hill University.

2021-22 and 2024-25: Coach to the University College Cork Senior Hurling team. 

2020/21: Wesley was the athletic development coach for the Cork Minor Hurling team for the 2020-2021 season (this coaching responsibility resulted in an All-Ireland Championship final victory).

2019/20: Strength and conditioning coach for the Cork Senior Hurling team for the 2019-20 winter season only.  

2018/19: Coached the University College Cork Senior Hurling team between September 2018, and February 2019 to win the All-Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup Championship. 

2016/18: Skills and Conditioning Coach University College Cork Senior Camogie Team. Reached All-Ireland Championship Final (February 2017).

2016: Skills Coach of the Cork Senior Camogie Team.

2015: Skills Coach of the Cork Senior Camogie Team, which won the All-Ireland Championhsip.

2014/16: Skills and Conditioning Coach for the University College Cork Fresher Hurling Team, whom won the All-Ireland League Title (November 2014), defeated in the subsequent All-Ireland Championship Final (February 2015).

Teaching Interests

Movement Analysis, Exercise Physiology, Personal and Exercise Fitness, Exercise Prescription, Coaching Science, School Placement and Research Project (all UG modular).  

Well-being for Health (M.Ed modular)

Recent Postgraduates

  Graduation Year Student Name Institution Degree Type Thesis Title
2027 Maeve Murray Dublin City University PHD TBC
2027 Catarina Andrade University College Cork PHD TBC
2027 Glynis Gardiner University College Cork PHD TBC
2025 David Cashman University College Cork PhD TBC
2024 Geraldine McDonald University College Cork M.Ed. To critically investigate secondary school teachers’ perceptions of effective wellbeing programmes for a post COVID era.
2024 Brian Cahill University College Cork PhD A critical investigation into primary school principal turnover: a mixed methods study. What are the factors determining turnover and retention
2023 Aoibhin Dennehy University College Cork M.Ed. Views on Leadership and it’s sustainability from the perspectives of Irish Primary School Principals: A critical investigation into the role of leadership and its impact on school leaders.
2023 Conor Philpott University College Cork PHD Investigating the relationship between perceived motor competence and actual motor competence in adolescent youth
2022 Sarah Jewitt University College Cork M.Ed. A Critical Investigation into the Effects of Early Intervention on Children aged between 2 and 6 years old with Autism in Ireland
2022 David O'Leary University College Cork M.Ed. To critically investigate the role of the teacher in promoting the wellbeing of the child in the primary school setting
2021 Diarmuid Lester University College Cork PHD The design, development, implementation and evaluation of Project FLAME: A multi-component, school-based, motor competence intervention for adolescent youth in Ireland
2021 Orlagh Farmer University College Cork PHD The design, development, implementation, and evaluation of the Gaelic4Girls intervention
2021 Niamh O' Brien University College Cork PHD State of Mind Ireland: The Design and Evaluation of a Positive Mental Health Intervention among Higher Education Students
2021 Bryan McCarthy University College Cork M.Ed. A critical investigation into the role of primary school principals in promoting coaching as a form of continuous professional development to improve teaching and learning in Irish primary schools.
2021 Catherine Murray University College Cork M.Ed. Exploring the Experiences of Infant Teachers Implementing the Aistear Framework
2020 Brian Donovan University College Cork Master of Research The refinement and development of the Project FLAME intervention.
2020 Andrew O'Riordan University College Cork M.Ed. A Critical Exploration into the Attitudes and Competencies of Primary School Teachers in the Delivery of Fundamental Movement Skills in an Irish Primary School
2019 Tara Brosnan University College Cork M.Ed. Physical Activity Leadership in the Playground - Final thesis title TBC.
2018 Lisa Bolger Cork Institute of Technology PHD The effectiveness of school-based interventions on the fundamental movement skill proficiency among a cohort of Irish primary school children
2018 Linda Bolger Cork Institute of Technology PHD An Investigation into the Relationship between Fundamental Movement Skill Proficiency and Markers of Health among a Cohort of Irish Primary School Children
2018 Christina Duff Dublin City University M.Ed. Kids Active: The Development and Evaluation of a Physical Activity and Fundamental Movement Skill Intervention for Preschool Children
2018 Holly Clarke Dublin City University M.Ed. Youth - Physical Activity Towards Health (Y-PATH)- Meeting the Needs of Irish Teachers and Students
2017 Gillian O' Sullivan University College Cork M.Ed. Project Elevate
2016 Molly O' Sullivan University College Cork M.Ed. Student voice and more: Examining the effect of a ‘co-operative’ learning intervention in physical education on the physical and affective domains of 10- to 12- year old girls in primary school
2016 Barry O' Leary University College Cork M.Ed. The Impact of a School-Based Intervention Programme on Children’s Wellbeing
2015 Eoin Joy University College Cork M.Ed. Fostering the Happy, Healthy, Physically Educated Adolescent – An Investigation into the Physical Education Experiences and Physical Fitness Levels of Active and Non-Active 17 year old pupils.

Current Postgraduate Students

  Student Degree Type
Sweeney Jennifer Catherine Doctoral Degree
O Shaughnessy Eilish Mary Doctoral Degree (Structured)

External Collaborators

  Name Organisation / Institute Country
Dr. Sarahjane Belton, Dr. Hannah Goss, Dr. Stephen Behan & Dr. Sarah Meegan Dublin City University IRELAND
Dr. Angela Carlin, Dr Julia McClelland, Professor Marie Murphy Ulster University IRELAND
Professor Catherine Woods University of Limerick IRELAND
Dr. Con Burns, Dr. Tara Coppinger, Dr. Ed Coughlan, Dr. Irene Hogan, Dr. Lisa Bolger, and Dr. Cian O' Neill Munster Technological University - Cork Campus IRELAND
Professor Michael Duncan Coventry University UNITED KINGDOM
Dr. Nathan Hall Brock University CANADA
Dr. Till Utesch University of Münster GERMANY
Dr. Donna Duffy and Dr. Kristen Thompson University of North Carolina Greensboro U.S.A.
Professor Deirdre Brennan and Dr. Gavin Breslin University of Ulster UNITED KINGDOM
Ms. Paula Prunty; Mr. William Harmon; Ms. Lyn Savage; The Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) IRELAND
Dr. Martin Lawlor HSE South & Nua Helathcare IRELAND
Ms. Christina Duff; Ms. Kathryn Scott; Ms. Laura Hickey; Ms. Janis Morrissey Irish Heart Foundation