A major European motion capture technology project to preserve, promote and develop culturally important sports has been developed in Ireland through a unique collaboration between scientists, sporting bodies, cultural organisations and athletes.
Re-Play is a €2million research project funded by the EU and involving scientists from Ireland, Spain, UK, Switzerland and Greece. Their collaborative work will capture the styles of play and skills unique to Gaelic and Basque Games and develop 3D interactive software that will be used to educate future generations about these culturally significant sports.

“The Re-Play project is an excellent example of the cultural impact that science can have, said Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, launching the initiative at Croke Park in Dublin.
“Sport is deeply ingrained in Ireland’s cultural heritage and this important project will help us preserve, promote and increase participation in our traditional games for future generations.”

“The project is also another excellent example of how we can leverage additional non-exchequer funding to Ireland arising from Government’s investment in excellent scientists through Science Foundation Ireland.”
The project’s Scientific and Technical Coordinator is Professor Noel O’Connor of CLARITY: Centre for Sensor Web Technologies, a partnership between UCD, DCU and Tyndall National Institute and funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI). Re-Play will initially focus on two families of traditional sports, Gaelic and Basque that are integral to the fabric of their communities and have remained popular in spite of the competition from other more widespread sports.
The project will study the bio-mechanics and unique skills base of Gaelic football, Hurling and Basque Poleta.
Motion sensors will capture the skills and techniques that characterize and differentiate the sports. Re-Play will then create 3D rendering of the styles of play of elite sportspersons with precision for posterity and to help educate future generations in these games.
In parallel, novel lower-cost technologies using emerging sensors will be developed to enable similar motion capture at local level in order to conceivably put this technology within reach of every club in Ireland or the Basque regions of Spain and France. The project team will also be seeking out opportunities for the Re-Play project results to be applied to other traditional sports and games across the world that share the same cultural significance.
“Sport is the most universal and accessible of cultural pursuits,” said Paraic Duffy, Director General of the GAA.
“The Association has played an important role in facilitating and shaping Ireland’s social and cultural heritage for generations. We are proud to be part of this important project and it will enable multiple modes of training, coaching and knowledge sharing that will contribute to the increased participation and preservation of our traditional sports into the future.”
RePlay brings together eight participants from five countries across Europe including Vicomtech-IK4 and Eusko Jaurlaritza from Spain, Vicon Motion and IN2 Search from the UK, CLARITY and the GAA from Ireland, the University of Geneva, Switzerland and the Centre for Research and Technology, Hellas in Greece.

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