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Making Waves: Exploring the Sea Through Science and Sound

We’re heading to Wicklow for Science Week 2026!

On Sunday, 8th November, TOG Hackerspace will be joining our friends from Dublin Maker, JellyLab and Bloop Groop for Making Waves: Exploring the Sea Through Science and Sound.

What happens when you turn data from the sea into music? Or use electronics and light to explore what’s happening beneath the waves?

Making Waves brings together scientists, musicians and makers for an afternoon of hands-on activities exploring the sea in new and interesting ways.

TOG will be bringing along some interactive electronics projects, including a new version of our water-pouring game. We’re also working on getting live data from the nearby sea back into the hall using a wireless link, giving the Bloop Groop something to turn into music and sound.

There will be plenty more to explore, from marine samples and scientific experiments to music, lights and interactive displays.

Event Details

  • Date: Sunday, 8th November 2026
  • Time: 2pm to 6pm
  • Location: Assembly Hall, Bachelor’s Walk, Wicklow Town
  • Admission: Free!

The event is suitable for all ages, and you don’t need any science background to take part. Drop in anytime during the afternoon.

Book your free tickets on Eventbrite

Making Waves is part of Science Week 2026, supported by Research Ireland.

We hope to see you in Wicklow!

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TOG Wins Dublin City Award at National Heritage Week 2026!

We have some fantastic news to share! TOG Hackerspace has been named the Dublin City County Award winner at the 2026 National Heritage Week Awards for our Forging History: Metalworking and the 1798 & 1803 Uprisings workshop.

The awards, organised by the Heritage Council, celebrate the work of groups and volunteers across Ireland who bring our heritage to life. We are delighted to see our event recognised.

Bringing History to Life at TOG

Back in August, we turned part of TOG into a working blacksmith’s forge for a very different kind of workshop.

Led by heritage blacksmith Fínín Líam Christie, the day explored the traditional metalworking skills behind the United Irishmen uprisings of 1798 and 1803. From forging pike heads to learning about Robert Emmet’s experimental rockets, we explored the engineering, craftsmanship and history behind these events.

Visitors had the chance to see traditional blacksmithing up close, with some getting their hands on the tools and trying the techniques for themselves.

It’s the sort of event we love running at TOG. Bringing people together to learn something new, try their hand at making, and discover skills they might never otherwise get the chance to experience.

Watch Our Forging History Film

We were lucky enough to capture the day on film, so even if you missed the workshop, you can still get a look at what went on.

The film follows the forging process, explores the history behind the pikes and rockets, and hears from some of the people who took part.

A Big Thank You

A huge thank you to Peter Nolan, Fínín Líam Christie, all our volunteers who helped make the day happen, and everyone who came along to take part or watch.

We would also like to thank the Heritage Council, whose funding made the workshop and film possible, and for recognising our event with this award.

At TOG, we’re used to making things with modern tools and technology, but it’s just as important to keep traditional skills alive and share them with a new audience.

We’re delighted to have played a small part in bringing this piece of Irish history to life, and even more delighted to see it recognised.

You can read more about the award and the event on the National Heritage Week website, or look back at our original workshop announcement.

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Maker Secret Santa Is Back for 2026

Dublin Maker’s Maker Secret Santa is back, and it’s a good excuse to make something for another maker this Christmas.

Lots of TOG members have taken part over the years. Making a gift for someone you might never have met is an interesting challenge, and there’s the fun of finding out what someone else has made for you.

Previous exchanges have included Jeffrey’s keypad memory game and Nathan’s miniature Crumlin Shopping Centre. You can read about both in our earlier blog post. We would recommend starting a little earlier than Jeffrey did. He finished his build and locked up the hackerspace at 2 am!

The idea is simple: sign up, get matched with another maker, make them a small gift and post it off. Everyone can then join an online gift opening to see what people have made.

It’s open to makers across the island of Ireland, at all levels of experience. You don’t need to have taken part in Dublin Maker before. Whether you’re into electronics, knitting, 3D printing, painting or something else, there’s room for your way of making.

Dublin Maker recommends choosing a project you can finish in one or two making sessions and spending no more than €50 on parts and materials. Using what you already have is a good place to start.

The dates for 2026 are:

  • 1 November: Sign-up deadline.
  • 2 November: Find out who you’re making for.
  • 6 December: Post your gift by this date.
  • 13 December: Join the online gift opening.

Fancy taking part? Find the full details and sign up on the Dublin Maker website.

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Learn to Wire a Plug with TOG in Athy and Naas

We’re taking our Learn to Wire a Plug workshop to Kildare this October, with free sessions at Athy Library and Naas Library and Cultural Centre.

Our member Jeffrey Roe will guide you through wiring a plug and building your own extension lead. If it’s one of those skills you’ve always meant to learn, come along and give it a go.

You’ll learn about the parts inside a plug, what the fuse does and how to secure the cable properly. Then you’ll put it into practice by wiring a plug and connecting it to a socket block. The finished extension leads will be checked and PAT tested before you take yours home.

No previous experience is needed, and all tools and materials are provided. You’ll leave with something useful that you made yourself.

Athy Library
Tuesday 27 October 2026, 6pm to 7:30pm
Convent Lane, Athy, Co. Kildare, R14 DK33.

Event details and booking updates for Athy

Naas Library and Cultural Centre
Saturday 31 October 2026, starting at 1:30pm
North Main Street, Naas, Co. Kildare, W91 E1RT.

This workshop is part of ECO LINES, Kildare Libraries’ Climate Readers Day, bringing practical repair skills into a day of conversations and activities about climate and community.

Event details and booking for Naas

Both workshops are free, with advance booking through Kildare Libraries. Check the links above for current availability.

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Hack & Chill: Hardware Capture the Flag

Hack & Chill: Hardware Capture the Flag

This Friday, 23 October, we’re getting stuck into some hardware hacking at TOG, with a special Capture the Flag session from 7 to 9 pm.

Think of it as a puzzle hunt on a small circuit board. There are 15 logical puzzles to work through, with hidden answers known as “flags” to discover. It’s a mix of hardware, software and figuring things out, with no soldering required.

The project brings together ESP8266 microcontroller boards and custom 3D-printed cases. TOG built hardware flags for the Women’s International Cybersecurity Challenge 2026, and the project also featured in the Irish Embassy programme at EMF Camp this summer. Now it’s your turn to have a go at the hackerspace.

Last week’s session didn’t go ahead, so we’re putting both parts into one evening:

7–8 pm: Have a go. Work through the challenges at your own pace. Well be around to help you get started, offer hints and help where we can.

8–9 pm: See how it’s done. We’ll go through the challenges step by step, explaining how to find each flag and the techniques involved.

Whether you’ve tried a CTF before or are just curious about hardware hacking, come along and try it out.

You can borrow the hardware for the evening or buy a board from us to keep experimenting at home.

Bring a laptop and your own USB-C data cable. Make sure the cable supports data, as a charging-only cable won’t work.

Where: TOG Hackerspace, Unit 1B Motor City, Kylemore Road, Dublin 12, D12 CF6V.

Read more about building the hardware flags.