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New power tools added to “Repair Café in a Box”

We’re delighted to share an upgrade to our Repair Café in a Box programme: we’ve added a range of power tools to the equipment kit that community groups can borrow to help run repair events.

This work is funded by the Community Climate Action Programme (Round 1) under the Government’s Climate Action Fund. It builds on our 2024 funding and helps us expand what we can offer through our Repair Café rental programme, making it easier for more groups across the Dublin region to host repairs safely and confidently.

What’s included?

Alongside the usual Repair Café essentials, we now have a suite of power tools and related kit available to loan. The goal is simple: help fix more things, reduce waste, and keep useful items in service for longer.

Borrow the kit for your Repair Café (free)

Since 2024, this programme has supported Repair Cafés and community events all over the place — including plenty hosted by ourselves at TOG. If you’re organising a Repair Café (or planning one) and you’d like to borrow the equipment at no cost, just get in touch and we’ll help you figure out what you need.

Thanks

This project is made possible with support from Dublin City Council, in partnership with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.

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TOG Hackerspace at the Phoenix ARC “Coolmine” Radio Rally 2026

Last year we packed up a few projects, a pile of flyers, and the usual “sure we’ll only be there an hour” optimism… and had a brilliant day out at the Phoenix Amateur Radio Club annual rally in Coolmine.

Good news: it’s on again this year, and we’ll be back along representing TOG — EI0TOG — for a chat, a catch-up, and a bit of radio craic.

Radio rallies are for everyone

If you’ve never been to a radio rally, don’t let the name put you off. They’re not just for licensed amateurs or hardcore collectors — they’re for anyone who likes electronics, making, fixing, DIY, audio gear, test equipment, and learning how things work.

You’ll see traders with radios and antennas, boxes of components, the “maybe I’ll need that someday” adapters, and plenty of people happy to help you figure out what you’re looking at (or what you accidentally bought!).

The details

Date: Sunday 15th February 2026
Event: 2026 Phoenix Amateur Radio Club “Coolmine” Rally
Venue: Coolmine Community School, Dublin, D15 FW97
Doors open: 10:00

Say hello to TOG (EI0TOG)

Drop over and say hi at the TOG table. Whether you’re curious about getting started in radio, want to know what a hackerspace is like, or you’re deep into a project and looking for a nudge in the right direction — we’re always up for a chat.

And if you’re already on the air, give us a wave — it’s always great to meet radio friends in person as well as over the bands.

Photos from last year

Want a taste of what the Coolmine Rally is like? Here’s our gallery from last year’s visit — stalls, treasures, and the general rally buzz:

https://www.tog.ie/gallery/nggallery/all/phoenix-amateur-radio-club-annual-radio-rally-2025

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Eat the Streets Ballyfermot Community Festival!

We’re delighted to be taking part in Eat the Streets, a family-friendly festival celebrating food, community, and sustainability in Ballyfermot.

The idea is simple (and right up our alley): grow, cook, create, and discover together — bringing families, urban growers, and chefs straight from the streets to the table.

TOG workshop: Learn to wire a plug (with Jeffrey Roe)

As part of the festival, our own Jeffrey Roe will be running a hands-on “learn to wire a plug” skills workshop.

If you’ve ever looked at a plug and thought, “I should really know how to do this properly” — this is your chance. It’s a practical, confidence-boosting skill, and we’ll keep it friendly and beginner-friendly.

(Some festival workshops have limited capacity and may require free tickets — if you’re planning to do a few sessions, it’s worth checking the bookings.)

Can’t make it on the day?

No stress — if you miss Jeffrey’s learn to wire a plug workshop at the festival, we’re running the same workshop again in March as part of Engineers Week at TOG Hackerspace.

You’ll get the same practical, step-by-step guidance (and the confidence to do it safely at home).

Full details and booking info are on the TOG site:
https://www.tog.ie/2026/02/learn-to-wire-a-plug-engineers-week-edition-workshop-at-tog/

What else is on?

There’s loads happening across the afternoon, including:

  • Cooking demos: Batch Cooking, FakeAways, and Empty Your Fridge
  • Workshops: Grow it Yourself, Natural Remedies, Fun Tie-Dye and more
  • Information stalls
  • Family fun: Free face painting and children’s entertainment

Event details

  • Location: Ballyfermot Community Civic Centre
  • Date: Saturday, 14th February 2026
  • Time: 12pm – 4pm
  • Cost: Free

Come eat, learn, share, and connect

Pop down, bring the family, meet local growers and community groups, pick up a few ideas for reducing food waste, and come chat to us at TOG while you’re at it.

More info (and tickets where needed): eatthestreets.ie/festival

#EatTheStreetsFestival #SustainableFood #CommunityEvent #UrbanGrowing #FoodCulture #Ballyfermot #FamilyFriendly

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Soldering Workshop (Engineers Week) – Build a Kit on the Night

We’re running a beginner-friendly soldering workshop at TOG Hackerspace for Engineers Week.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to solder (or just get more confident with it), this is a hands-on session that starts from the basics and finishes with you building something real.

Like our previous soldering workshops, we’ll cover safe tool use, good technique, and the common mistakes that catch people out.

What to expect

In this class, our instructors will guide you through the process of soldering components onto a circuit board. We’ll start with the fundamentals — how to use a soldering iron properly, how to get a clean joint, and how to spot (and fix) issues — then you’ll build your own project.

New for this Engineers Week edition: choose your kit

On the night, you’ll get to pick one of five different kits and build it after the lesson. Each kit is designed to be achievable for beginners, with help on hand if you get stuck.

Workshop details

No electronics experience needed — just come along ready to learn. (If you want an age limit like the last one, drop it in here.)

Why Engineers Week?

Engineers Week is all about celebrating engineering in everyday life — and soldering is one of those skills that turns curiosity into “I can actually build that”. It’s a brilliant gateway into electronics: you learn how components fit together, how circuits come to life, and how to make something solid and reliable with your own hands. You’ll leave with a finished kit you built yourself, and a lot more confidence the next time you open up a project, fix a cable, or start tinkering with electronics at home.

And if you’re in the mood to learn another practical skill during Engineers Week, check out our Learn to Wire a Plug workshop too:
https://www.tog.ie/2026/02/learn-to-wire-a-plug-engineers-week-edition-workshop-at-tog/

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The Salvage Squad came to our Repair Café and the lamp lived to tell the tale

Back in August last year, we had a great surprise visitor at one of our Repair Cafés. The team from Virgin Media’s The Salvage Squad dropped in with a lamp that needed a bit of TLC.

Cameras and curiosity in tow, they joined the usual Repair Café buzz at TOG, with fixers working away on everything from small electronics to household bits and bobs. The lamp landed on the bench with our member Shane, supported by the other volunteer fixers on the day.

With a bit of careful troubleshooting and plenty of know-how, the lamp was brought back to life. The Salvage Squad team headed off with a lovely working lamp, and a proper appreciation for what Repair Cafés are all about. Sharing skills, keeping useful things out of the bin, and proving that “broken” often just means “not yet fixed”.

It finally aired this week

The piece we filmed back in August has finally made it to air this week, which is brilliant to see. If you missed the episode, you can catch up on the Virgin Media One player here:
https://www.virginmediatelevision.ie/player/show/2571/0/0/

A big thank you again to Shane and all the fixers who gave their time and skills on the day.

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Plant All The Things

seeds

It’s a New Year and January has already given way to February. Many of us at TOG are keen vegetable growers and we’re now looking forward to spring and the growing season ahead. The harvest last year was super, so let’s hope for a repeat.

Join us at TOG for a free seed and plant swap on Saturday 21st February from 3PM to 7PM. We’ll be planting lots of seeds on the day and hopefully no one will go away empty handed. We’ll have plenty of pots, bags and potting compost.


If you have anything surplus that you’d like to share, why not bring it along…. seeds? plants? cuttings? We’d love to hear your own stories of what you like to plant in your own garden or space. Tell your friends and family about the event. If you’re involved with any community gardens, then definitely tell them also. The kettle will be on all day with plenty of tea and coffee and biscuits.

From 7PM that same day, it’s our regular monthly Open Social event which you are welcome to join also. There’ll be pizza and plenty of chat and craic as usual. TOG is a non-profit space run by unpaid volunteers. Donations are always welcome.