Ireland’s young software programmers set high standards at the National Scratch Coding finals

Ben Stafford from, Belvedere College S.J. Dublin has been named the overall winner of the Annual National Scratch Coding Competition, organised by Lero, the Research Ireland Centre for Software and the Irish Computer Society. 

Ben Stafford a student from Belvedere College S.J., was presented with his award at the 16^th national finals of the annual competition at University of Limerick (UL) on Wednesday. The finals brought together Ireland’s best young coders from primary and post-primary schools from all over the country to showcase their project to the competition judges. The keynote address at the finals was given by Assistant Professor at UL Alison O’Connor. 

Ben’s project AstroForge was designed and built using Scratch, a visual programming language that makes it easy to create interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art and share these creations on the web. 

Lero’s Education and Public Engagement Manager, Dr Clare McInerney, said Lero’s involvement in the Scratch competition is crucial for a critical reason: 

“Software is everywhere, it is all around us and it has never been so important that children and young people learn not just how to use it but also how it works. At 

Lero, we support software skills at every stage of education. It is part of our mission to foster and grow coding skills and computational thinking among younger children, teens, and those far older. 

“What we witness at the culmination of the National Scratch Competition Finals is the payoff of months of hard graft by the contestants, their teachers and families – and let me tell you – it’s awe-inspiring. Their projects are an amazing combination of science, technology, imagination and ingenuity – showing off just how much fun coding can be. It leaves me wondering what these finalists will do next?” she added.

Irish Computer Society President, Tiziana Margaria believes the National Scratch Competition is where young coders of tomorrow get to flex their creative muscles and showcase their abilities. 

Technology can be a game-changer if you know how to use it, and Scratch proves just that – it’s all about having some fun while learning some very worthwhile skills.  

“It’s a near certainty that some of the people here in UL today will be the IT leaders of tomorrow, but even if they take different routes, I’m sure their engagement in the competition will set them up as savvy digital citizens,” she added.

Dr McInerney said this year, there were more than 292 entries with 73% male and 27% female. 

“We congratulate Ben Stafford and all today’s finalists and those who supported them on their journey. Our panel of 15 judges were so impressed by the quality and originality of the projects that some have asked to come back next year,” she added.

The winners of the National Scratch Coding Competition 2025 are:

Overall winner: Ben Stafford, 4^th to 6^th year category, Belvedere College, Dublin. Project Title, ‘AstroForge’.

Category winners:

Special Scratch Award:  

Noel Darcy, St Patrick's NS, Maugherow, Sligo. Project title, ‘Capybara Catch’.

Junior Infants to First Class: 

Sesandu Methdam Wasala, Elliot Shinners Kennedy, Felix Nash Milford National School, Castletroy, Limerick. Project Title, ‘Help the Ocean’. 

Second Class to Fourth Class:  

Grace Ryan, Milford National School. Project Title, ‘Wicked’.

Fifth to Sixth Class: 

Aaron Burke, Craughwell National School, Galway. Project Title, ‘Space Travel’.

First to Third Year:

Conall McManus, St. Patrick's College, Cullies, Cavan. Project Title, ‘Guatemala Bossfight 2: Central America’. 

Fourth to Sixth Year:

Vita Marohnic, Abbey Community College, Ferrybank, Waterford. Project Title, ‘Make Your Own Music’. 

Judges' Award winners:

Special Scratch Award: 

Patrick Cregan, Banogue NS, Croom, Co Limerick. Project Title, ‘Space Clicker’.

Junior Infants to First Class: 

Sam Bray, Milford National School. Project Title, ‘Froggy Matches the Shapes’.

Second Class to Fourth Class: 

Cian McFadden Scoil Fhionáin, An Fál Carrach, Co. Dhún nGall. Project Title, ‘Pattern Maker’.

Eve Ryan, Cillian Flynn, Eoinín Shinners, Milford National School, Castletroy, Limerick. Project Title, ‘The Math Wizard and the Evil Dungeon’.

Aisling Ryan, Amelia Bray, Ben O'Doherty, Milford National School, Castletroy, Limerick. Project Title, ‘Potatodog’.

Darragh O'Donoghue, Daniel Balfe, Milford National School, Castletroy, Limerick. Project Title, ‘DABwhale and Darragh's game’. 

Oisín Mulrooney, Zachary McMahon, Scoil Chiaráin CBS, Donneycarney, Dublin. Project Title, ‘Generic Platformer!’

Grace McLauchlan MTU Code Club, Bishopstown, Cork. Project Title, ‘Dance with me!’.

Fifth to Sixth Class:

Elsa Fowler, Craughwell National School,Galway. Project Title, ‘Anime Quiz on my Favourite Anime Shows!!’. 

Emma Jacques, Ratoath Senior National School, Co Meath. Project Title, ‘Flip a Human’.

Oisín Dawkins, Donabate Portrane Educate Together National School, Co Dublin. Project Title, ‘Desert Zombie Apocalypse!!!Upper’. 

Seamus Hickey, Luke Butler, Tony Lenihan, Upper Glanmire NS, Cork. Project Title, ‘Right on Time’. 

Donnacha Mullen, Enrique Tamayo, Scoil Chiaráin CBS, Donneycarney, Dublin. Project Title, ‘Undermen’. 

Cathál Delany, Upper Glanmire NS, Cork. Project Title, ‘Voiders Card Shop’. 

Finn McGurren, St Helen's SNS, Portmarnock, Dublin. Project Title, ‘Ball Odyssey’.

Thomas Miller, Scoil San Nioclás, Windgap, Kilkenny. Project Title, ‘0.2 Space Invaders’. 

Martin Lynch, Max HamiltonScoil an Spioroid Naoimh, Ballysheedy, Limerick. Project Title, ‘Game Game’.

First to Third Year:

Alan Kelly Marcinkowski, Rice College, Ennis, Co. Clare. Project Title, ‘Galactic Defender’. 

Theo Van Mierlo, Abbey Community College, Ferrybank, Waterford. Project Title, ‘Survival of the Weakest’.

Murphy Owanta, Ardgillan CC, Balbriggan, Dublin. Title Project, ‘3D Keyquest’.

Aarav Yatgiri, Noa Larsen, Ruvin Loka, Confey College, Leixlip, Kildare. Project Title, ‘Detective Raj:The Game

Visit www.Scratch.ie for more information about Scratch and the Scratch competition.

Visit www.Scratch.ie for more information about Scratch and the Scratch competition.