Blog by Mark Lane, Zero Days
The past few months have been nothing short of extraordinary for the ZeroDays CTF team. The momentum continues, and we wouldn’t have it any other way!
For years I’ve been saying I’d love to see ZeroDays CTF on RTÉ Nationwide. Last year, a chance conversation with journalist extraordinaire Fiona Alston, I was discussing ZeroDays, Team Ireland and the ECSC European CyberSecurity Challenge, and mentioned the Nationwide dream. Fiona thought there was a great story there and amazingly was able to make an introduction to Nationwide reporter Colm Flynn, who also thought it would make a great segment. So, back in March we had Colm and the Nationwide cameras on us at ZeroDays CTF in Croke Park, at TU Dublin – School of Informatics and Cybersecurity, and at the National Cyber Security Centre, Ireland (NCSC-IE) for a couple of days of filming and interviews. I’m delighted to say that we featured on Nationwide on RTE1 in July! Check out the segment in the video below.
Fresh off Team Ireland’s record-breaking performance at ENISA’s European Cyber Security Challenge (ECSC) —and our team captain’s crucial role in securing Team Europe victory at the International CyberSecurity Challenge (ICC)—we immediately shifted gears to plan this year’s national CTF events.
This year was our tenth anniversary and marked a significant evolution in our approach. One of the biggest changes was transforming the Cyber-Schools category into a standalone event. What began in 2022 with just 15 school teams had doubled in size within two years, making it clear that a dedicated competition was the way forward. Partnering with CyberWise/UCD and GroSafe/TU Dublin, and supported by Cyber Ireland and Zero Latency VR, we hosted the inaugural Cyber-Schools CTF at Astra Hall, UCD, on March 19th. The result was a resounding success.
A New Era for Cyber-Schools CTF
Fifty-eight school teams, over 220 students, from across the country took on a thrilling mix of challenges, including cybersecurity, coding, lock-picking, escape rooms, VR games, and more. These activities pushed students to sharpen their technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, critical thinking, teamwork, and communication skills—all within a friendly, high-energy, gamified environment.
The response was overwhelmingly positive. Teachers shared how they had never seen their students so focused and engaged for such an extended period. A really exciting feature this year was the growing number of school teams featuring players who had already trained with, or competed for, Ireland’s national CTF team, raising the level of competition to new heights. Even more promisingly, we identified several standout new talents who were invited to compete at ZeroDays CTF just a few days later.
ZeroDays CTF at Croke Park: Bigger, Tougher, and More International Than Ever
What a segue! Fast forward three days to ZeroDays CTF at Croke Park, where we expected a slight dip in numbers due to the schools category moving to its own event. Instead, we saw another increase in participation, thanks to the introduction of a new International Category and the surging interest in CTFs. All this in front of RTÉ’s Nationwide, who were along to cover the fun.
A total of 130 teams registered across three categories: Colleges, Open, and International. This year’s competition was, without a doubt, the most intense we’ve ever hosted. As CTFs gain traction, competitors continue to raise the bar, driven by better coaching, tougher competition, enhanced training, and the arrival of elite international teams.
Many of these international squads included ECSC veterans and former champions, with three teams representing the UK’s newly relaunched Cyber Team. Ultimately, the Slovak Cyber Team, featuring ECSC players, claimed victory in the International category.
Rising Stars: Secondary School Teams Take on the Pros
We also invited the top 12 players from Cyber-Schools CTF to form three teams and compete in ZeroDays CTF, where they delivered outstanding performances. Amazingly, one of these school teams went on to win the Open category, comfortably beating teams composed of graduates and industry professionals. Another finished 15th overall, which would have placed them 3rd in the Open category, while the least experienced team still secured an impressive 20th place in the Open category.
These results speak volumes about the future of cybersecurity talent in Ireland. When secondary school students are competing head-to-head with seasoned professionals, it’s a clear sign that our training, mentorship, and competitive ecosystem are working. It’s also a compelling case for continued industry and government support—these young cyber talents represent the future of national and global cybersecurity.
A Heartfelt Thank You
None of this would be possible without the dedication and support of so many people. A huge thank you to our participants, sponsors, challenge creators, event organisers, volunteers, and supporters—as well as our incredible core team: Emmet Leahy, Daniel Cahill, and Cillian Collins. Your vision, skill, and commitment make all of this happen.
ZeroDays CTF continues to grow, innovate, and push the boundaries of cybersecurity education and competition. And if this year is anything to go by, the best is yet to come.