We are featured in the Irish Independent talking about the work we’re doing with Repair Cafés across the country.
If you’re interested in hosting a Repair Café or getting involved, give us a shout.
Build Your Own RISC-V Computer – Olimex RVPC Workshop
Have you ever wanted to build your own computer from scratch? Now’s your chance! Join us in Tog Hackerspace on Saturday, 16th of August, for a hands-on workshop where you’ll solder and program your very own Olimex RVPC kit — a compact and open hardware RISC-V computer.
🕙 Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm💰 Cost: €25 per person (plus booking fee)
🔧 What You’ll Be Doing
- Solder up the Olimex RVPC kit – don’t worry if you’re a beginner, we’ll guide you through it.
- Program and run your new computer using an open-source RISC-V CPU.
- Get an introduction to low-level programming and system setup on an open hardware platform.
💡 What’s Included
We’ll provide:
- The full RVPC kit from Olimex
- USB-C power cable
- PS/2 to USB adapter
🧰 What to Bring
- A laptop
- A USB or PS/2 keyboard
- A VGA monitor and VGA cable (if possible – we’ll have a couple on hand but not enough for everyone)
Whether you’re a hardware hacker, a Linux tinkerer, or just curious about the future of computing with RISC-V, this workshop is a great way to learn by doing. Spaces are limited, so grab your spot while you can!
Come solder, learn, and leave with a computer you built yourself.
Returning to Vienna – A Workshop at Metalab
Here’s a post from one of our members, Jeffrey, about his recent trip to Vienna and a visit to a fellow hackerspace.
It’s not every day you get to revisit a place that helped shape your own hackerspace journey. Earlier this month, Jeffrey made a stopover in Vienna on his way to FAB25.cz, and while he was there, he paid a long-overdue visit to Metalab, Vienna’s oldest hackerspace.
His last time in the city was way back in 2010, for a line-following robot competition. Jeffrey and fellow Tog member Robert Fitzsimons built a painfully slow but determined robot. Of the robots that actually finished the course, they came in last, but technically not last overall, since a few didn’t finish at all. A win’s a win! Old Photos.
That trip also included a visit to Metalab, which left a lasting impression. Its open layout and strong community vibe were a big influence on how we later designed Tog 2.
This time around, Jeffrey got the chance to give back by running a multimeter workshop. There was a great turnout, with participants learning how to properly use a multimeter to measure voltage, current, and resistance. It was a fun and hands-on evening full of questions, demos, and the kind of tinkering we love to see.
After the workshop, Jeffrey got a tour of the space from Hetti, a longtime Metalab member. From the workshop room humming away to the welcoming lounge area full of creativity, it’s clear Metalab continues to thrive.
And making the visit even more special, Meg, one of Tog’s founders, who now lives in Vienna, gave Jeffrey a tour of the city and the best swimming spot to get away from the heat.
📸 Check out the photo album from the workshop and Metalab tour.
Big thanks to the crew at Metalab for the warm welcome and to everyone who joined the workshop. If you’re ever in Vienna, be sure to drop by. It’s a space full of great people and maker magic.
Tog Hackerspace Now On the Air: Say Hello to EI0TOG!
We’re buzzing with excitement to share that Tog Hackerspace has officially joined the airwaves! After months of behind-the-scenes work, we’re now a registered radio club with both the Irish Radio Transmitters Society (IRTS) and ComReg. That means we’ve been issued our very own club call sign: EI0TOG.
This marks another great step for our growing radio crew. Just a few weeks ago, we hosted a brilliant radio day in the space, tuning into satellites, making contacts, and chatting all things RF. With the new call sign in place, there’s plenty more radio fun ahead.
In the coming weeks, we’ll be getting the station properly set up in the space. Once it’s live, members and guests will be able to hop on the airwaves and try out EI0TOG (with a licensed operator supervising, of course).
Stay tuned for more updates as we power up EI0TOG!
Curious about amateur radio or want to get involved? Swing by an open night or give us a shout, we’d love to get you on the air.
The Rocking Chair that Came Back to Life at Laois Repair Café
Over the weekend, we hit the road and went to Laois, and what a weekend it was! We managed to fix over 45 items, ranging from toasters to clothes to a whole host of quirky gadgets. People came in with broken stuff, and by the end of the event, many of them were walking out with their favourite items fixed and ready for another lease of life.
But the real heartwarming story of the weekend? It has to be Pauline’s rocking chair, which got a fresh lease of life thanks to our very own Shane Phelan. Now, this wasn’t just any chair; it had history.
Pauline shared a bit about it: “Thanks a million! Chair is fantastic work—my husband is currently sat on it watching a match! It was purchased for my dad (by my mother—they married in 1973) in 1968 for his 21st birthday in June 1968, in Roches Store, Patrick St. Cork! I got it recovered, sanded, varnished, and refurbished (!!🤡) in 2021 but it wasn’t right. Today my husband said he feels more secure in it, so thank you Shane!!”
The rocking chair had been through a lot, but with a little TLC and a touch of Shane’s magic, it’s now back in action and more solid than ever.
The Laois Repair Café was filled with similar stories. There were people bringing in everything from old radios and lamps to stuffed toys and even kitchen appliances, all with one goal: to keep it out of the landfill, and give it another chance. And that’s exactly what we did.
As always, it wasn’t just about repairs. The event was a great chance for people to learn a few tricks, share some stories, and connect with their community. The event was hosted by The CUBE – Low Carbon Centre of Excellence in their lovely building.
These special Repair Café events were only possible with the support of Laois County Council, in collaboration with the Eastern-Midlands Waste Region, and with the generous backing of the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment.
Massive thanks to everyone who came along, and to the volunteers who made it all happen. Check out some of the photos from the weekend in our gallery, and we can’t wait to do it all again soon!
Tog Hackerspace Receives Support from the Local Enhancement Programme 2025
We are excited to announce that we have received support through the Local Enhancement Programme 2025, an initiative from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. This grant will play a key role in enhancing our facilities and ensuring the continued success of our community-driven projects.
The Local Enhancement Programme 2025 is designed to assist community organisations, particularly those serving disadvantaged areas, by providing funding for capital improvements and operational costs. For Tog, this means we will be able to improve our infrastructure, expand our offerings, and continue providing a space for innovation, creativity, and hands-on learning. The grant will help ensure that Tog can continue to serve as a collaborative hub for individuals to explore and develop their skills in technology and problem-solving.
With this support, we can offer even more opportunities for our members and visitors to engage in a wide range of workshops and activities, from electronics and 3D printing to IoT and programming. It’s an exciting time for the hackerspace, and we look forward to welcoming more people into our vibrant community.
We encourage everyone to visit Tog Hackerspace during our open nights! Whether you’re a maker, tech enthusiast, or just curious, there’s always something new to discover. Come see what we’re working on and find out how you can get involved in shaping the future of innovation and creativity in our community.
For more information about the Local Enhancement Programme and to see the full list of other projects supported, check out the press release.