Here's some guidance for the day
Welcome to Craicathon 2026! Many of you have expressed that you haven't done much coding before — that's totally fine. We suggest pairing up with engineers in your team, or trying out a low-code tool for the day. We have received 100 free Lovable vouchers for participants.
Lovable is an AI-powered tool that lets you build real, working web apps just by describing what you want in plain English. No coding experience needed. If you can write a message, you can build an app.
Create an account (or log in), click Upgrade Plan → $25/month subscription, then enter:
DUBLINTECH
This gives you your first month free. Thank you to everyone at Lovable for that.
Think of Lovable like a developer who builds exactly what you describe, nothing more and nothing less. The quality of what you get out depends entirely on the quality of what you put in.
Be specific. Instead of "make me an Irish language app," try: "Build a flashcard app for learning Irish vocabulary. It should show an English word on one side and the Irish translation on the other. The user can flip the card, mark it as learned or needs more practice, and move to the next card. Start with 10 words related to everyday objects. The design should feel clean and modern with green and white colours. Include a progress bar."
Paste in your content directly. If your project is based on Irish vocabulary, mythology, song lyrics, or GAA statistics — paste that content straight into your prompt. Lovable will use it as the foundation. You don't need to add it manually afterwards.
Describe the vibe. "Traditional Irish aesthetic with Celtic patterns" or "modern and minimal, like Duolingo" gives Lovable a visual direction. You can also upload images, screenshots, or sketches to guide the design.
Keep refining. Type follow-up instructions like "change the background to green" or "add a search bar." Think of it as a conversation with a developer. You never need to touch the code underneath.
Once comfortable, you can connect your app to a database using Supabase (Lovable walks you through it), add user login, and deploy your app live at a public URL.
Deploy early. Even if your app isn't finished, deploy it as soon as something works. It's much easier to demo on the day and get feedback from your team. You can keep updating it after deploying.
Take screenshots as you go. For your demo, having screenshots of early versions alongside the final product tells a much better story than just showing the finished thing.
Stuck? Ask a teammate or a mentor. We have experienced engineers and mentors in the room all day. If you're going in circles, step away from the screen, explain what you're trying to build to a person, and nine times out of ten the solution will become obvious.
These Irish language APIs were shared specifically for Craicathon participants by Aaron MacGaffray — thank you!
You have 3 minutes on the main stage. Here's how to use them.
Say your name, your role, and your idea. One clear mission sentence. Keep it human. Think: who are you, and what are you building?
Hook the audience. Use a real, relatable story or vivid comparison. A few punchy stats help. Make them feel why this matters before you offer any solution.
Your most powerful moment. Show the product actually working — a live demo beats a screenshot every time. Lead with the most impressive feature and hook them in the first 10 seconds. Don't rush. If it breaks, stay calm and narrate.
Introduce your product as the answer. Plain language only — what does the user experience? Keep it bilingual so everyone in the room understands.
Why are you the right team? Your unique connection to the problem is your most powerful credential. Relevant skills help too.
End with conviction. Make a bold, emotional case for why this must exist. Leave them remembering your passion, not a data point.
Full pitch guide + judging rubric also available on the competition page.