Category: Workshops/Events

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DIY Solar, Home Battery and Home Automation Meetup

We’re excited to host a special evening on Monday, the 18th of August 2025, from 7–9 pm in Tog Hackerspace. This informal meetup is all about sharing knowledge, projects, and experiences around DIY solar, home batteries, and home automation.

If you’ve been experimenting with adding solar panels to your home, wiring up batteries, or tinkering with smart switches and sensors, this is the night to come along and swap stories with like-minded makers.

On the night you can expect:

  • Show and Tell from people who have installed their own solar systems or set up home automation.
  • Hands-on kit: we’ll have solar panels, inverters, and some home automation gear like Shelly devices on display.
  • A DIY camper van demo showing off a converted setup with batteries, an inverter, and more.

This will be a casual, friendly evening—bring along your questions, projects, or just your curiosity. There’s plenty of parking, it’s free to attend, and no booking is required.

If the evening proves popular, we’d love to make it a regular thing.

📅 When: Monday, 18th August 2025, 7–9 pm📍 Location: Tog Hackerspace, Unit 1B Motor City, Kylemore Road, D12 CF6V, Dublin

Come along and join the conversation about powering your home (or van!) the DIY way.

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Breathe New Life into Your Old Computer – Join the Dublin Linux Installfest at Tog!

Is your computer facing retirement just because Windows 10 is reaching its end of life?

On Saturday, 13th September 2025, from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Tog Hackerspace is proud to host the Dublin Linux Group for a special event that’s all about giving old computers a new lease of life — with Linux!

Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 on 14th October 2025. If your device isn’t eligible for an upgrade to Windows 11, it means no more security updates or virus protection — and for many, that sounds like the end of the road. But don’t panic: there’s a better way.

Most computers from 2010 onwards are perfectly capable of running a modern Linux operating system. With a clean, secure, and supported version of Linux, you can keep using your computer for years to come — no need to buy a new one or send more electronics to landfill.

During this free event, friendly Linux users and volunteers will be on hand to:

  • Help you install Linux on your laptop or desktop
  • Show you how to use Linux day to day
  • Answer your questions and help you get comfortable with this powerful and user-friendly alternative

Whether you’re a total beginner or just curious about making the switch, this is a great chance to learn more, try things out, and meet like-minded folks.

Event Details:
📅 Saturday, 13th September 2025
🕚 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM
📍 Tog Hackerspace, Unit 1B Motor City, Kylemore Road, D12 CF6V, Dublin

For more information, visit endofwin10.ie

We’re thrilled to be one of the venues worldwide helping people make the switch to free and open-source software. See you there — and bring a laptop if you want help installing Linux!

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🚗 DIY Electric Vehicle Meetup 🚗

Calling all DIY enthusiasts! Are you searching for an exhilarating and wallet-friendly project that promotes eco-friendliness? Look no further than converting your very own electric vehicle (EV)!

Embrace the philosophy of “reduce, reuse, recycle” for your personal transportation.

Picture that beloved car from your youth, revamped into an EV. Or envision a compact and low-maintenance runaround that’s affordable to operate.

Join a community of passionate bike, car, and motorbike tinkerers who have embarked on the journey of converting their vehicles to electric power.

📅 Date: Saturday, August 16th
⏰ Time: 3 pm – 7 pm

This casual meetup is the perfect occasion to discuss, explore, and inquire about the EV conversion process. Bring the entire family along, as this event is child-friendly. Reserve your tickets here and get ready for an inspiring afternoon.

🎟️ Eventbrite – DIY Electric Vehicle Meetup

We’ll have tea and coffee available on site, and Tog has an affordable tuck shop with fizzy drinks and snacks. After the event, Tog’s monthly open social night will be on with pizza and chats. Please consider adding a donation to your ticket to support this non-profit space. Suggested donation: €10

This event is run in partnership with the Electronic and Computing division of Engineers Ireland. The Electronic and Computing division members work in software development and testing, including the gaming industry; mobile and fixed line telecommunications; internet services; embedded systems development, and signal processing.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to delve into the world of electric vehicle conversion and meet like-minded individuals. See you there! 🔌🌿 #DIYEV #ElectricVehicles #GreenTransportation #EVConversion #SustainableMobility

This you are looking to spend the whole day in Tog, why not also check out our workshop that morning, Build Your Own RISC-V Computer – Olimex RVPC Workshop.

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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)

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/build-your-own-risc-v-computer-olimex-rvpc-workshop-tog-hackerspace-tickets-1446556703039?aff=oddtdtcreator

🔧 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.

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Laois Repair Cafe

We’re excited to be taking our Repair Café on the road again, this time to Laois for a weekend filled with fixing, learning, and community spirit!

Join us at The CUBE – Low Carbon Centre of Excellence in Portlaoise on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th June 2025, from 11 am to 3 pm each day. We’re teaming up with a fantastic new partner to help give your broken items a second chance.

What can you bring?

We’ll be ready to tackle repairs on a wide range of household items, including:

  • Clothes and accessories
  • Toys
  • Small electrical appliances and electronics
  • Small furniture
  • …and more!

We’ll even have PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) available to ensure repaired electrical devices are safe to use.

Whether it’s a wonky toaster, glitchy switch, or a teddy missing a limb—don’t throw it away! Our volunteers will work with you to diagnose and repair your items, all while sharing tips and advice to help you learn new skills.

While you’re waiting, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and take a tour of The CUBE, a national centre of excellence focused on innovation and sustainability in the low-carbon and renewables sector.

Event Details
🛠️ When: Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th June 2025
⏰ Time: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm each day
📍 Where: The CUBE, 18 Church Street, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, R32 TP89
🎟️ Admission: Free, but booking in advance via Eventbrite is essential.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/laois-repair-cafe-tickets-1409501188999?aff=oddtdtcreator

This special Repair Café event is only possible thanks to 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.

Continue reading “Laois Repair Cafe”
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Hitting the Road and Rails: Tog Hackerspace at the Cork Carnival of Science 🚗🚆🔬

We’re packing up projects, charging the batteries, and heading south—Tog Hackerspace is back at the Cork Carnival of Science this weekend, Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th of June, in the beautiful Fitzgerald Park.

As veterans of this fantastic festival, we’re excited to return and share our love of making with the people of Cork once again. It’s one of our favourite science outreach events of the year!

This year, we’re making the journey by car and train, carrying our interactive projects across the country to take part in the science-fuelled fun. Whether by road or rail, no distance is too far when it comes to spreading maker magic and hands-on learning.

The Cork Carnival of Science is packed with family-friendly experiments, live shows, garden games, food stalls, and all kinds of interactive activities. It’s an amazing celebration of curiosity and creativity—and a perfect match for what we love to do.

📍 You’ll find us on Discover Drive, where we’ll be showing off an assortment of interactive games and projects built in our hackerspace. Expect blinking LEDs, DIY gadgets, mechanical puzzles, and more. Come explore what’s possible when creativity meets technology!

We believe strongly in science outreach—in sparking curiosity, encouraging learning, and making tech more approachable for everyone. Events like this are how we connect with communities, share our knowledge, and hopefully inspire the next generation of makers.

🕚 We’ll be there both days from 11 am to 6 pm, ready to welcome visitors of all ages.

So if you’re in the Cork area, come join us for some hands-on fun! Bring your curiosity—we’ll bring the projects.

🚗🚆🔧 See you in Fitzgerald Park!

More info on the festival: https://www.corkcity.ie/en/cork-carnival-of-science/