Books and Drinks

Our free-of-charge meet-up upstairs in Ryan's Bar. This is a casual meet up for people who want to play boardgames. Lots of people bring plenty of games and rules will always be explained so don't worry if you're new to the hobby and you don't have anything to bring along or think you won't know how to play. Late comers always welcome, you just might have to wait a little for a game to open up. **The meet ups are free of charge but we do ask that people support the bar by buying food and/or drink. The bar is very accommodating to us and it's important that we support them in return. Bringing in outside food or drink is completely unacceptable.** Check out the comments below where people will say what games they are bringing and express your interest in joining if interested.

TOG Watch Night: The Secret Life of Components (Tim Hunkin) We’re kicking off a new bi-weekly Monday Watch Night at TOG. We’ll watch an episode of Tim Hunkin’s “The Secret Life of Components” together, then have a relaxed Q&A and discussion afterwards. This is a friendly, low-pressure way to learn the kind of practical tips you normally only pick up through years of making, fixing, and building. Perfect for beginners, makers, repair folks, and engineers who enjoy the practical side of components and mechanisms. How it works \- Watch together \(one episode per night\) \- Q&A and chat after: questions\, examples\, tangents\, and “how would we do this at TOG?” \- If you miss a week\, no stress\. Watch it at home and come along to the next one First session \- Monday 26 January \- Episode 1: Chain \- Free and open to all \- TOG Hackerspace \(Dublin 12\, D12 CF6V\) Full details: https://www.tog.ie/2026/01/tog-watch-night-the-secret-life-of-components-tim-hunkin/

*Your Monthly Monday Social* **Dublin deserves more Quality Time—and a lot more play 🎲💜** Mondays are officially getting a makeover. We’ve teamed up with the stunning **Ruby Molly Hotel** to bring you **"Game On,"** a monthly residency dedicated to the joy of board games, card games, and genuine human connection. Forget the Monday blues and the boredom. We’re transforming this boutique space into a cosy, quality gaming lounge where the only "player" you need to be is yourself. *** ✨ The Quality Time Experience: Whether you’re a strategic mastermind or just looking for a laugh over a simple card game, we’ve curated an evening that takes the "awkward" out of meeting new people. * **🃏 Curated Play:** We provide a selection of classic board games, modern favourites, and card-based games. * **🤝 Built-in Community:** Our keepers (Maja & Lexie) are on hand to help facilitate games and introduce you to new friends. You never have to worry about "finding a seat"—we make sure everyone is part of the game. * **💜 Pure Presence:** Phones are tucked away so you can focus on the cards in your hand and the people across the table. * **🍸 Boutique Vibes:** Enjoy the stylish, relaxed atmosphere of the Ruby Molly with a cocktail or coffee in hand. *** 🕰️ The Schedule: * **18:30 – 19:00 \| The Warm\-Up:** Arrive, grab a drink, and settle in. We’ll help pair you up with a game and a group. * **19:00 – 21:00 \| Game On:** Two hours of uninterrupted play and social time. Switch tables, try a new game, or stick with your crew! * **21:00 – 21:30 \| The Cool Down:** Wrap up the final rounds and enjoy some relaxed conversation before heading home recharged. *** 📍 The Details: * **When:** Every 3rd Monday of the month. * **Where:** Ruby Molly Hotel. * **Tickets:** Free! * **Support the Venue:** The Ruby Molly is a no-cash hotel. Please support our hosts by enjoying their bar and snack menu! 💳 *** 🐥 Who is this for? * **Solo Adventurers:** Most people come alone! We are experts at making you feel welcome and getting you into a game immediately. * **Friends & Partners:** Bring a "plus one" for some quality time outside the house. * **Everyone:** From Jenga pros to Uno beginners—all levels (and ages) of "gamer" are welcome. *** **Dublin deserves more Quality Time.** Let’s play! **Love, Maja & Lexie** 🦄🦆🎲 *(The Quality Time Team)*

These events are suitable for those who already have a regular meditation practice and want to continue to do so in a supportive environment with other meditators. There is no requirement to book in advance, just turn up, or log in. For online sits, please click the link below a few minutes before each sit. Join the [morning meditations](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84133106671?pwd=WFZmQUlHcWN6bHAxdmp4UnVOV1VaZz09) each day using Zoom (password if required is *dropinmed* ). On a [donation basis](https://dublinbuddhistcentre.org/donate). No need to book, just drop in if you know how to meditate.

Beginners welcome, or if experienced to sharpen your game, and for those who are keen can join team preparation for a summer 7-a-side tournament free for members..

## Details The title of the event is a paradox! Read in silence and then discuss with like-minded folks! :-) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/dublinersjoysofreading) 📝 **How does this work?** We will meet in the Bartley's Restaurant area from 7:00 PM to 8:15 PM for silent reading and followed up by discussion. **During silent reading, you're expected to remain silent and read.** Please bring your headphones and refrain from the discussion during the first one hour in the area. 👥 **Socialising** After an hour, at 8:15 PM, we'll discuss and socialize about the book you're reading. We highly encourage you to move between tables and strike up conversations with fellow book lovers. These discussions about literature and reading recommendations are often the highlight of the event! Feel free to join at any point during the event. The event is indoors, hopefully, we can continue the tradition of the silent reading in the winter! **📌 Helpful Tips and Notes** * Bring headphones to block out surrounding noise * I will post a comment on the event page when I arrive to indicate where we're seated, so everyone can find us * If you prefer to skip the silent reading, you can join directly at the bar at 8:15 PM ⚠️**Something Happened?** If something unpleasant happened to you, it may happen to others. It may be small but don't hesitate to reach out to me. Looking forward to meeting you all 😊

📚Reading books and discussing them are two distinct experiences! Conversations about books and sharing insights help us better appreciate literature and enrich our lives. [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/dublinersjoysofreading) Let's grab a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) and discuss books we're currently reading or have recently enjoyed—whether poetry, fiction, or non-fiction. Bring your physical book or e-reader. There's no formal structure or agenda—just books and good conversation.💬 It's a perfect place to get book recommendations and rediscover your reading momentum if you've hit a slump. We welcome readers of all backgrounds and interests! ⚠️**Something Happened?** If something unpleasant happened to you, it may happen to others. Even if it seems minor, don't hesitate to reach out to me. 🔍 **How to find us?** * When I reach the venue, I'll leave a comment in the meetup where the group is seated. Normally, the booking is in my name, so you can ask the staff for the group. * If you're unable to find us, leave a comment in the meetup page. I'll be able to guide you. We highly encourage you to move between tables and strike up conversations with fellow book lovers. These discussions about literature and reading recommendations are often the highlight of the event! As an organizer, I'm always looking for feedback about the event and suggestions for new events, so feel free to suggest ideas to me. 💡 I look forward to seeing you all! 😊

**Registration/booking on our system at least 24 hours before class is necessary. We do not take walk ins/your rsvp on meetup is not a booking.** BOOK [HERE](themovementstudio.ie/handstandsandcoffee) From beginner to winner! We have a special weekly 2 hour class that is more like a weekly workshop. It's a very social class, with amazing coffee, great coaching, and smiles and good work being done. Fancy trying something new? Spending time safely outside your comfort zone? Please visit themovementstudio.ie/handstandsandcoffee to book your spot Registration/booking is necessary. We do not take walk ins.

Hello Everyone! Let's read something before coming to the event. It can be a few pages from a book, an article, a poem, an advertisement, a joke, a recipe, a quote, social media content - anything you find interesting. We meet and chat about it, as a starting point of conversation. Please feel free to bring books :)

Hi there, Here are the books for the June 16th meetup. And remember, you don't have to read both books! Enjoy, and see you on the 16th of June! PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LOCATION HAS MOVED FROM THE BLEEDING HORSE TO JIMMY RABBITTE AT 87 LOWER CAMDEN STREET. Note: If these books are difficult to find in bookshops, try online (e.g.: Amazon.co.uk, kennys.ie, easons.com, bookdepository.com to name a few). AS THIS GROUP DOES NOT TAKE ONLINE PAYMENTS, EVERYONE WILL SHOW AS 'UNPAID'. PLEASE IGNORE. **1\. Empire of AI \- Karen Hao** An eye-opening account of the tech arms race shaping out planet, from an award-winning journalist and AI insider to the world of Sam Altman and OpenAI When longtime AI expert and journalist Karen Hao first began covering OpenAI in 2019, she thought they were the good guys. Founded as a nonprofit with safety enshrined as its core mission, it was meant, its leader Sam Altman told us, to act as a check against more purely market forces. But the core truth of this massively disruptive sector is that it requires an unprecedented amount of proprietary resources: the ‘compute’ power of scarce high-end chips, the sheer volume of data that needs to be amassed at scale, the humans on the ground ‘cleaning it up’ for sweatshop wages throughout the Global South, and a truly alarming spike in the need for energy and water underlying everything. We have entered a new, ominous age of empire with OpenAI setting a breakneck pace, as a small group of the most valuable companies in human history try to chase it down. In exhilarating prose and with unparalleled access to those closest to Sam Altman, Hao recounts the meteoric rise of OpenAI and shows us the sinister impact that this industry is having on society. **2\. Leonard and Hungry Paul – Ronan Hession** Leonard and Hungry Paul is the story of two friends who ordinarily would remain uncelebrated. It finds a value and specialness in them that is not immediately apparent and prompts the idea that maybe we could learn from the people that we overlook in life. Leonard and Hungry Paul change the world differently to the rest of us: we try and change it by effort and force; they change it by discovering the small things they can do well and offering them to others. Séamus

Welcome, readers! Our June read is ***Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible*** ***Voyage*** **by Alfred Lansing.** A work of nonfiction, and one of the most astonishing survival stories in history, we follow Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew after their ship is crushed by Antarctic ice. Stranded in one of the harshest environments on Earth, the men endure months of isolation, freezing temperatures, and near starvation—yet refuse to give up hope. Lansing brings their ordeal to life through vivid detail and firsthand accounts, capturing both the brutality of nature and the resilience of the human spirit. At its core, the story is a powerful testament to leadership, perseverance, and the unbreakable will to survive against impossible odds. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **all** **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

Welcome, readers! Our July read is ***A Short Walk Through a Wide World*** *by Douglas Westerbeke*. We'll follow a young woman bound by a mysterious condition that forces her to keep moving across the globe. As she journeys through vibrant cities, quiet landscapes, and centuries of time, each stop reveals new connections, fleeting relationships, and deeper questions about belonging. The novel blends adventure with introspection, exploring what it means to search for home when you can never stay in one place. It’s both a love letter to the vastness of the world and a poignant meditation on identity, memory, and human connection. Looking forward to discussing with everyone We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **drinks must be purchased at the bar** Happy reading!

Join us for The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell In 2019, humanity finally finds proof of extraterrestrial life when a listening post in Puerto Rico picks up exquisite singing from a planet that will come to be known as Rakhat. While United Nations diplomats endlessly debate a possible first contact mission, the Society of Jesus quietly organizes an eight-person scientific expedition of its own. What the Jesuits find is a world so beyond comprehension that it will lead them to question what it means to be "human".

This month we’ll be reading Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel. Feel free to come even if you don’t finish the book!

**Our June novel is: *The Eights* by Joanna Miller** **This month’s novel is set during World War I. It’s a 20th-century historical fiction story about friendship and war, with coming-of-age elements and a slightly haunted tone. The book is 384 pages in print and 10 hours and 9 minutes on audiobook.** Oxford, 1920. For the first time in its one-thousand-year history, Oxford University officially admits female students. Burning with dreams of equality, four young women move into neighboring rooms in Corridor 8. Beatrice, Dora, Marianne, and Otto—collectively known as The Eights—come from all walks of life, each driven by their own motives, each holding tight to their secrets, and are thrown into an unlikely, unshakable friendship. Dora was never meant to go to university, but, after losing both her brother and her fiancé on the battlefield, has arrived in their place. Politically-minded Beatrice, daughter of a famous suffragette, sees Oxford as a chance to make her own way - and some friends her own age. Otto was a nurse during the war but is excited to return to her socialite lifestyle in Oxford where she hopes to find distraction from the memories that haunt her. And finally Marianne, the quiet, clever daughter of a village pastor, who has a shocking secret she must hide from everyone, even her new friends, if she is to succeed. Among the historic spires, and in the long shadow of the Great War, the four women must navigate and support one another in a turbulent world in which misogyny is rife, influenza is still a threat, and the ghosts of the Great War don’t always remain dead.

June is Fantasy month! • The book we will be discussing is The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. (determined by votes from May Book Club. Message me your e-mail if you'd like a free digital copy of the book) • This event will be at the Dublin library (Room 3). Feel free to come whether or not you've started or finished the book. • Small snacks will be provided. You're welcome to bring your own snacks & drinks too! Let me know if you’d like to volunteer to bring snacks or drinks for the group. Please try to update your attendance if anything changes so we have an accurate head count for print outs and snacks :)

Join us for our June Book Club gathering where we will come together to discuss [The Queer Principles of Kit Webb](https://catsebastian.com/the-queer-principles-of-kit-webb/) by Cat Sebastian in a safe and welcoming environment. Make new friends who share your passion for books and connect with fellow LGBTQ book enthusiasts.