Entrant Company
TBWA\Ireland
Entry Type
Product/Service
Medium
Experiential/Activation
Category
Social Good/Community
Gaelic Games (GAA) is Ireland’s national sport and holds a unique place in Ireland’s culture.
The late Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh commentated on Gaelic Games for 60 years, making his match commentary particularly iconic with older GAA fans. His voice can reach these people in a way that nothing else can, bringing joy and connection back to their lives. This made Micheál’s voice the perfect way for Alzheimer Society of Ireland to engage and connect with older people living with dementia.
We created The Replay - a free online archive of Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh's most memorable match commentary from 1985 to 2010.
Working with a leading expert in psychology and memory, we identified that Micheál's commentary could serve as a powerful tool for reminiscence therapy. This uses familiar stimuli to help people living with dementia access long-term memories. Hearing Micheál's voice acts as a form of mental time-travel, reconnecting listeners with who they were when they first heard him.
The platform was designed specifically for people with memory conditions, applying dementia-informed UX principles to reduce cognitive load. Each match features the original programme cover as an additional visual stimulus, alongside a step-by-step reminiscence therapy guide.
In the first month, with zero media budget, and in a population of only 5.3m people, we achieved:
-13,167,215 media reach
-46,000+ page views
-80,000+ minutes of commentary listened to
-Adopted as an official resource by Nursing Homes Ireland, Ireland’s largest care home organisation