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VR Airsoft Controllers – Talk, Demo and Hands-On Session at TOG

On Saturday, 29 August, TOG Hackerspace will host an afternoon exploring custom-built VR Airsoft controllers.

The project comes from the creator behind the VR-Firearms YouTube channel, who has been developing physical airsoft-style controllers for use in virtual reality.

During the afternoon, there will be a short talk about how the project was developed, a demonstration of the controllers in action, and an opportunity for attendees to try them out for themselves.

Building Custom Hardware for VR

Most consumer VR systems rely on the controllers supplied with the headset, but there is plenty of scope for experimentation when you start designing hardware for a particular experience.

The VR-Firearms project explores how physical airsoft-style controllers can be integrated into virtual reality, combining VR hardware development, controller design and custom physical interfaces.

We’ll get a look at how the controllers work, some of the development challenges involved and how the physical hardware is integrated into the VR environment.

Following the talk and demonstration, attendees will have an opportunity to try the setup and see how the controllers feel in use.

There will also be plenty of time for questions and discussion about the project.

If you’re interested in virtual reality, electronics, hardware hacking, controller design, game development or unusual human-computer interfaces, come along and take a look.

You can see more of the project on the VR-Firearms YouTube channel:

Event Details

VR Airsoft Controllers – Talk, Demo and Hands-On Session

📅 Saturday, 29 August 2026
🕒 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm
📍 TOG Hackerspace

The afternoon will include:

  • A short talk on the development of the VR Airsoft controller project
  • A look at the custom hardware and controller design
  • A live VR demonstration
  • An opportunity to try the controllers
  • Questions and discussion

Places will be limited to approximately 20 people.

Tickets are free, with an optional donation to support TOG Hackerspace.

🎟️ Book your place: [EVENTBRITE LINK]

Whether you already work with VR or are simply curious about what happens when you start building your own physical interfaces for virtual worlds, come along and give it a try.

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TOG at South Dublin’s Community Circular Economy Day

TOG Hackerspace is delighted to be taking part in the Free Community Circular Economy Day in Tallaght on Wednesday, 19th August 2026.

Organised by South Dublin County Council, the free event brings together community groups and repairers for a day focused on repairing, reusing, swapping and giving things a second life.

The event takes place at Fettercairn Community and Youth Centre, Tallaght, D24 W92N, from 10am to 4pm, with a large Repair Café, Clothing Swap and Community Plant Swap.

TOG at the Repair Café

TOG members will be taking part in the Repair Café alongside repairers from the Rediscovery Centre, with our main focus on electronics repair.

Bring along a small electrical or electronic item that has stopped working and we’ll see if we can help diagnose the problem and, where possible, get it working again.

We’ll be helping with:

  • 🔌 Small electrical appliances
  • 💡 Lamps
  • 🧸 Electronic toys
  • 🍳 Kitchen gadgets
  • 📱 Handheld devices
  • 💬 Advice on larger repair and upcycling projects

Where possible, you’ll get a chance to work alongside the repairers, learn what has gone wrong and pick up some useful repair skills.

Repair spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with a maximum of two items per person.

More to Repair and Reuse

The wider Repair Café will also include help with:

  • 🚲 Bike repair and maintenance
  • 🧵 Clothing and textile repair
  • 🪑 Furniture repair
  • 🔌 Electronics repair

There will also be a Clothing Swap and Community Plant Swap, giving people more ways to reuse, share and keep useful items in circulation.

Event Details

Free Community Circular Economy Day
📅 Wednesday, 19th August 2026
🕙 10:00am – 4:00pm
📍 Fettercairn Community and Youth Centre, Tallaght, D24 W92N
🎟️ Free – registration required

👉 Register on Eventbrite

We’re looking forward to bringing some of TOG’s repair skills out into the community and hopefully giving a few broken gadgets another chance at life.

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Forging History – Metalworking and the 1798 & 1803 Uprisings

On Saturday, 15 August, TOG Hackerspace will be turning up the heat for a very different kind of heritage event.

As part of National Heritage Week 2026, we will be joined by heritage blacksmith Fínín Líam Christie for a day-long workshop exploring traditional blacksmithing and the metalworking skills associated with the United Irishmen, the 1798 Rebellion and Robert Emmet’s 1803 Rising.

The event will run from 9am to 5pm and is completely free, with places available both for people who want to take part directly and for those who would prefer to watch the demonstrations.

Blacksmithing, history and making

While Robert Emmet and the United Irishmen are familiar names from Irish history, less attention is usually given to the practical skills, engineering and craft knowledge behind the preparations for the uprisings.

During the day, Fínín will demonstrate traditional forge work, including setting and maintaining the fire, controlling heat with bellows, shaping hot metal, joining and finishing components, tempering and cooling, and preparing forged pieces for mounting.

The workshop will look at how these techniques were used for everyday ironwork and tools, while exploring how similar skills were applied to objects associated with the uprisings, including pike heads and the metalworking involved in Robert Emmet’s experimental rockets.

This is a heritage and skills demonstration rather than an attempt to recreate functional historical weapons. The aim is to explore the materials, techniques and practical knowledge behind this fascinating part of Irish history.

Have a go yourself

There will be 10 Hands-on Metalworking tickets available for people who would like to take part in selected stages of the forging process.

These sessions will take place under close supervision, with appropriate safety measures in place. No previous blacksmithing experience is needed.

There will also be 30 General Admission tickets for people who would like to watch the demonstrations, ask questions and follow the work as it develops throughout the day.

The example pike head made by Fínín gives a good idea of the traditional metalworking techniques that will be explored during the workshop.

About Fínín Líam Christie

Fínín is an experienced blacksmith and heritage craft practitioner and a member of the Irish Artist Blacksmiths Association.

He trained at Lucan Technical School and volunteered at the Ulster Folk Museum before establishing his own forge in Coolgreany, County Wexford. His work includes architectural ironwork, tool-making, training and heritage blacksmithing experiences, making him ideally placed to bring the practical side of this history to life.

And afterwards…

The day does not end when the forge goes quiet.

That evening we will be holding our TOG Open Social Night, when the pieces made during the workshop will remain on display. Visitors will be able to see what was produced, chat with participants and organisers, and explore some of the other craft and technology projects being worked on by TOG members.

And, as with any good TOG social night, there will also be fresh pizza cooked on site.

Event details

Workshop on Metalworking of the 1798 and 1803 Uprisings

Saturday, 15 August 2026
9am – 5pm
TOG Hackerspace

General Admission: Free – 30 places
Hands-on Metalworking: Free – 10 places

Advance booking is required.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/forging-history-metalworking-and-the-1798-1803-uprisings-tickets-1994131024575?aff=oddtdtcreator

The workshop will also be professionally filmed, with an edited and captioned video published afterwards. The resulting material will form part of an online heritage resource and will help us continue sharing the project beyond the live event.

This project is funded by The Heritage Council and takes place as part of National Heritage Week 2026.

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Open Fashion Show at Dublin Maker

A colourful graphic of people wearing various coats and bags, just standing around

At Dublin Maker our craft night regulars will be running an Open Fashion Show and we want YOU to take part! Whether you’ve crafted an elaborate outfit or made a cute patch on your jeans, anything at all, we want to see it!

Making, repairing and upcycling clothes and accessories is just so awesome, and people are always delighted when they found out (“you made that!?! cool!”), so let’s have a bunch of you together for that concentrated pride in our work! Expect to see everything from knitted shawls to elaborate fursuits, patched shirts and handsewn bucket hats.

On the day, we’ll ask you to fill out a card with some information about your make. Then we’ll give all the cards to our emcee and he’ll call you up, one by one, and you’ll do a little loop to show off your stuff and get a round of applause. Simple!

If you’re not ready to strut your stuff, come along anyway. Give a big clap to our makers and get inspired for next year!

There will be four slots, Saturday 12:45 and 14:45, and Sunday 11:15 and 14:30. You may sign up for whichever ones work best for you. If you’re entering the show, turn up a few minutes earlier to fill out your card.

If you’re almost but not quite ready with something to show off, drop by Craft Night on August 9th from 18:30-20:30 at Tog for some moral support (and advice if you need it).

In case you have any questions, feel free to email triona@tog.ie for more details.

The event will be accessible to people with limited mobility but if you have an extra questions, you can also check the Dublin Maker guide or reach out on their contact page.

We can’t wait to see you there!

For an easy link to share with friends visit tog.ie/fashion and you’ll find a post there if you want to print one.

You can sign up for a slot in advance with eventbrite at: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/open-fashion-show-dublin-maker-tickets-1996822790720

Don’t worry if you haven’t finalised your make, you can change your mind on the day and fill out a fresh card.

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TOG Hackerspace at Dublin Comic Con Summer 2026

TOG Hackerspace will be at Dublin Comic Con Summer 2026 this Saturday and Sunday, 8th and 9th August, at the Convention Centre Dublin.

You will find us on Level 2, where we will have a selection of projects made by TOG members. Drop by to see what we have been building, meet some of our members and learn more about the hackerspace.

Whether you are interested in electronics, fabrication, radio, coding, crafts or simply making things, come over and say hello. We are looking forward to another brilliant weekend surrounded by makers, cosplayers and sci-fi fans.

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More Test Equipment from Testwall

Back in 2024, we wrote about a generous donation from Testwall that supported our electronics lab, Repair Cafés and member projects. We are delighted to say they have supported TOG again, with another collection of professional test and measurement equipment.

This latest donation includes an Advantest R3754A network analyser, an HP 75000 Series B modular test system, an Anritsu data transmission analyser and other RF and communications test equipment.

The equipment has already made its way onto the benches. Members have been carefully checking each unit, powering it up and opening up some of the equipment for inspection where needed. The next job is to find out what can be brought back into regular use.

Older test equipment can still be extremely useful. It gives members hands-on access to specialist tools that would otherwise be difficult for a community workshop to purchase. It also creates plenty of opportunities to learn about fault-finding, repair and how professional test systems are put together.

Keeping useful equipment in service is also much better than seeing it become electronic waste.

A big thank you to everyone at Testwall for thinking of TOG again. Their continued support gives equipment a second life and gives our members new tools to learn, repair and build with. Testwall works across a broad range of RF, communications and electronic test equipment, making this a particularly fitting donation for the space.

Companies sometimes have equipment, tools, components or materials that are no longer needed but still have plenty of life left. If you think something could find a useful home in a community workshop, please get in touch with us.