The excitement over the launch of Ireland's first satellite gained a great deal of momentum from a contest the European Space Agency launched at the same time:

Hams from around the world responded enthusiastically to an invitation from the European Space Agency to be the first to receive radio signals from EIRSAT-1 after its launch on the 1st of December. The Educational Irish Research Satellite, a two-unit CubeSat from University College Dublin, is a ham radio satellite and an educational satellite that took to the sky from a California launchpad on the 1st of December.

The ESA announced the winners from each continent. There were no entries from Africa. There were no entries from Africa. Winners were the first to send in confirmed signals.

The ESA said it would send a QSL card and a small prize to each of the winning amateurs. All others who sent in confirmed reports will receive QSL cards as well.