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.
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.
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.
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.
Our friends at CESI will be hosting a Turtlestitch workshop on Saturday 21st of November from 2pm to 5pm. Turtlestitch is a way to code up embroidery patterns using code blocks. It’s often used as a teaching tool for coding, but also a fun way to generate embroidery patterns.
Whether you’re new to coding or new to embroidery, there’ll be plenty to learn. This workshop is aimed at adults interested in embroidery or teaching coding. It will be led by Mags Amond with support from John Hegarty and Helen O’Kelly. You’ll find out about the history of Turtlestitch, learn how to create embroidery designs, and stitch them out on our industrial machine and some of the smaller domestic machines that will be brought on the day.
Mags and John in their Turtlestitch embroidered apron and labcoat.
An embroidered postcard from Turtlestitch on a fridge.
The workshop will cost €10 and includes materials. Tickets can be bought with this link..
Join us at TOG Hackerspace for a weekend of amateur radio, hands-on workshops, old technology and a bit of messing.
On Saturday, we’ll be building satellite ground stations, trying packet radio, making callsign patches and putting soldering skills to the test. There will be live demonstrations and afternoon talks, followed by our October Open Social and pizza night.
Sunday starts with radio in the park, before we return to TOG for an afternoon of vintage radios, retro computers, consoles and restoration projects.
Radio amateurs, shortwave listeners, makers and curious newcomers are all welcome. You don’t need a radio licence to attend.
Book your place
There are three separate Eventbrite listings, so you can book the parts of the weekend you’d like to attend:
From 12:00 | Live radio demos and callsign patches
Drop in from noon to explore the equipment, meet the operators and try some making.
Pump-up mast with Ben Field, EI9IUB
Ben will demonstrate his trailer-mounted mast, built around an ex-MOD Sankey trailer and a Clark SCAM 12 mast. The setup normally carries a hexbeam antenna and rotator, with a dipole for the lower bands.
Come and see how it works and chat about setting up a portable radio station.
Packet radio with Victor, EI5IYB
Earlier this year, TOG joined the packet radio network. Vic will give practical demonstrations of connecting to and using it, and introduce the applications built on top of the network.
Discover how computers communicate over radio, with uses including messaging, group chat and news and weather services. Thanks to the Online Amateur Radio Community (OARC) for supporting this part of the programme.
Make your own callsign patch with Tree
Tree will be on hand throughout the day to demonstrate TOG’s new industrial embroidery machine and help visitors make their own callsign patches.
Learn how the machine works and see your callsign turned into a patch. Thanks to the Irish Radio Transmitters Society for part-funding the consumables through its Promoting Amateur Radio Fund. Donations towards material costs are welcome.
13:00 and 14:00 | Advanced soldering workshops
Already know how to solder and want a new challenge? We have a range of kits for you to try, with instructors on hand to help you get started and work through the tricky bits.
These informal workshops start at 13:00 and 14:00. Kits cost €10–€20, depending on which you choose, and soldering irons are provided.
Afternoon | Radio talks
Three talks will bring us together for a closer look at different sides of radio in collaboration with Engineers Ireland Electronic and Computing Division . The programme includes
15:00 | Radio skills, skills for life – Vic, EI5IYB
Amateur Radio is a technical hobby but not only. It is a hobby of many hobbies, from mechanical engineering and communication skills to project management. In this talk, Vic will explore the skills that are gained in the ham radio hobby and how they transfer into your personal and professional life.
16:00 | Radiosondes: Radio and Weather Balloons – Met Éireann
An introduction to radiosondes, the instruments carried by weather balloons, and how radio is used to send atmospheric measurements back to the ground.
17:00 | Making Room for the Whimsical in Amateur Radio – Jeffrey Roe, EI7IRB
From Toilets on the Air to sending cat pictures with EI0MEOW, amateur radio has plenty of room for a bit of messing. Jeffrey explores playful projects, lightbulb antennas and Halloween Morse events, asking how we can encourage unusual ideas in our clubs.
A talk about curiosity, experimentation and enjoying radio simply because it makes us smile.
Stay around after the talks for TOG’s October Open Social. We’ll fire up the pizza oven, meet members and visitors, show off projects and keep the radio, electronics and making chats going into the evening.
Come and see a portable amateur radio station in action. We’ll get on the air, including calling into the South Dublin Radio Club Sunday net and listening to and checking in after the IRTS Sunday News on 2 metres.
It’s a chance to see how a station can be taken out into a park and put on the air, or to join other operators for a morning of portable radio.
14:00–18:00 | Retro Radio & Computing Day
Sunday afternoon is for old radios, glowing screens and technology that still has plenty of stories to tell.
Our Retro Day returns with a special focus on vintage radio and communications equipment, alongside retro computers, consoles, games, test equipment and unusual electronics.
Members, radio clubs, collectors and visitors are invited to bring equipment to demonstrate and restoration projects to talk about. Working machines and projects still in progress are both welcome.
Have something to show? Email info@tog.ie with what you’d like to bring, how much table space you need and any power or display requirements.
Come along to exhibit, try some old technology or simply have a look and a chat. Please ask the owner before operating any equipment.
All activities take place at TOG Hackerspace, Unit 1B Motor City, Kylemore Road, Dublin 12, D12 CF6V, apart from Sunday morning’s POTA session at Lansdowne Valley Park.
TOG is a short walk from the Kylemore stop on the Luas Red Line. See our location page for directions. For access questions or other event enquiries, email info@tog.ie.
Radio Day and Retro Day have free entry. Advanced soldering kits cost €10–€20, and donations towards callsign patch materials are welcome. Check the separate satellite workshop listing for its ticket details.
In conjunction with our friends at Lovelace Space, we want to help you add pockets where you want and need them. Everyone loves a pocket, you can fill it with goodies or surprises, or maybe some pamphlets… but not all clothing comes with pockets off the rack. Or maybe it does come with pockets but you want MORE!
On October 14th, from 7pm to 9pm, we’re hosting a workshop on adding in-seam pockets and patch pockets to existing items of clothing. You do not need to have sewing experience to join, you just have to want more pockets. Hosts Tríona and Maria will help you add pockets using both handsewing and machine sewing techniques (and a little bit of ironing for some). Bring a laundered item of clothing and your imagination. We’ll provide materials and guidance. We will have some sewing machines in the space but you’re more than welcome to bring your own.
And, as it’s Climate Action Week, we are conscious that helping you repair clothes is good for the planet AND we’ll be making sure to reuse materials for your shiny new pockets by sourcing them from our friends at Change Clothes.
A pair of jeans with its pocket turned out to reveal colourful fabric. The pocket enlarges the original jeans pocket.
A patch pocket is a pocket that’s added to the surface. You can add it anywhere, and it can be (almost) any shape. First you make the edges of the pocket neat and then you’ll attach it.
A grey patch pocket attached to the inside of a grey coat. A battery pack and wire are poking out of the pocket.
An in-seam pocket goes in a seam (it’s in the name). You’ll cut your pocket pieces, gently rip open some of the seam, and then attach the pocket pieces and sew it up while reenforcing the seams near the pocket.
