Prototyping

Come join us **Monday** the **18th of May** at the **The Circular in Rialto at 7pm.** We’ll be at the Backroom, which you can find behind the curtain. We will have the usual socialising and networking with others in the Irish game development community. See what they have been working on, play test in-development games! If you have something you want to show off you can bring it along and get feedback too! If you want to present, you should fill out [this form ](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe0UVGSd0kdiLKtuOkgNPI89GswAZ4lxHbo2tlDujjU_C2vdw/viewform?usp=header) You can also join our discord channel here to keep the conversation going: [https://discord.gg/dJA7dhf](https://discord.gg/dJA7dhf) This month's 1GAM theme is "**Jump, man**" What does 1GAM mean? Well, it's a monthly Game Jam (1 Game A Month, get it?). Every month we give you a theme, and you can bring a game you made during that month to show it off to the rest of the attendees. Think of it as optional inspiration for prototypes, and if you need extra motivation. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

**Do you like to make things? Would you like to use 3D software, lasercutter and 3D printing to help you make your idea?** TOG has an open evening to learn how CAD software and 3D fabrication tools can help you make your project. All you need to take part is your own laptop and some ideas on what you want to make. This is not a taught class, more like an informal working group of self-directed makers. We will be happy to help you explore how to use our 3D tools in designing and making your project whether you are a crafter, designer, engineer or hobbyist. Come and have a look at the tools in our space and get some ideas on how your project can be made.

Come join us at The Playground with our weekly drop-in improv workshop! Running on Monday evenings, this is a chance to experience improv among like minded people. No experience necessary and all levels are welcome! Each week we will have a different theme with exercises and activities to allow us improve our improv skills. Whether you are interested in developing the skills for your professional or personal life, or you are someone who currently performs or would like to perform on stage, then there is something for everyone. The long-term objective of The Playground is to create a place for people to develop and create projects and shows, providing regular opportunities for those who wish to perform in shows. Facilitated by two very experienced improvisers, Neil Curran and Quinton O'Reilly, join us for some play! We also have guest teachers join us too. **Important Info** \* Each drop-in session lasts 2 hours and starts at 7pm in the Teachers' Club. \* Each drop-in costs just €12. \* You can also sign up for membership which costs just €30 per calendar month and gets you access to all workshops. \* No experience necessary and all levels welcome. \* Events run on a drop-in basis offering flexibility for those who can't commit to doing a course. \* Payment can be made on arrival. \* After the workshop, many of us stick around for chats in the bar upstairs so do stick around for it. For more about Neil Curran please visit www.lowerthetone.com Check us out on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/improv_playground/

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/

Come along to get rid of the number one fear people have. Every week we have new members and people starting from scratch so you will not be alone. Everything is based around what you're comfortable with and you don't have to stand up, talk or do anything if you don't feel like it. But you will have the opportunity to speak at least 4/5 times a night. You can come along to see what we're doing and take part if you like. We will be running this for beginners every week and anyone is welcome to join us to learn and get better together. Hope to see you there :D We charge €5 to help towards the room rental.

A beginner-friendly introduction to DJing. This is a fun, no pressure workshop for anyone who wants to try the basics of djing! ***[Get your Tickets](https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/dj-workshop-for-beginners-females-only-tickets-1988615311930)*** ### **Ever want to learn the art of djing? Join us for a complete beginners crash course!🔊** We will be exploring setting up equipment, controllers, rekordbox and giving very simple and practical advice.This event is designed for people with no previous knowledge and it's a fun and practical session with our team. The event is for **5 people max** **REVIEWS✍️** *Clare \* 9 reviews •* **Had such a great time at this beginner DJ workshop today. It was super accessible, really well structured, and the fact that it was female-only made it feel especially comfortable and welcoming.** **Gibby was a brilliant teacher, checking in with everyone, going at our pace, and explaining things clearly without ever making it feel intimidating. He covered the basics really well, but also gave us loads of practical guidance on how we could set ourselves up if we wanted to keep going afterwards, which felt very thoughtfully planned.** **This must be the place was great space for the workshop. It was great craic from start to finish and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Would highly recommend to anyone curious about DJing and not sure where to start.** *Ruth \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\** \*\*"Did the DJ workshop with Gibby, really enjoyable and learnt so much, would defo go back! "\*\*😊 PLEASE NOTE: Tickets need 7 days notice for refunds. We cannot swap or refund tickets without 7 days notice, by buying a ticket you accept this. **DO YOU DO PRIVATE EVENTS?** Yes we host corporate teams, hen parties and birthdays. We can do this in offices or our studio. Contact us onbookings@alternativeexperiences.ie **IS IT WHEELCHAIR FRIENDLY?** The venue is not wheelchair friendly unfortunately but do get in touch as we host events in various locations that are accessible for wheelchair users. **DO YOU DO KIDS WORKSHOPS?** No, at this current time we do not do any groups below 18. In the future we may do youth groups. **HOW DO I FIND OUT ABOUT EVENTS?** Signup to our weekly newsletter [here](https://www.alternativedublincity.com/newsletter-signup/ "https://www.alternativedublincity.com/newsletter-signup/") **ARE YOU ON INSTAGRAM?** Yes find our page [here](https://www.instagram.com/thismustbetheplacedublin/ "https://www.instagram.com/thismustbetheplacedublin/")

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..

We’ll explore the dramatic coastal trails and panoramic viewpoints of Bray Head, one of the most visually rewarding walks near Dublin. From woodland paths and rugged cliff edges to expansive sea views and the iconic summit cross, this walk offers endless opportunities to work with light, texture, scale, and storytelling. The goal is simple: slow down, observe carefully, and shoot with intention. Along the route, we’ll experiment with composition, exposure, timing, landscape framing, candid moments, and using natural light in constantly changing outdoor conditions. *** ## **📍 Meeting Point** Raheen Car Park, Bray Head 📅 Saturday, 23 May 2026 🕒 10:00 hrs *** ### **What to expect** * A relaxed photowalk through Bray Head Looped Walk * Coastal landscapes, woodland trails, cliff views, textures, and candid moments * Practical, real-time photography tips while shooting * Opportunities to experiment with composition, exposure, movement, and perspective * A casual post-walk coffee session to review shots and exchange ideas *** ### **About the walk** The Bray Head Loop is one of Wicklow’s most scenic coastal walks, offering spectacular views across Bray, Dublin Bay, the Irish Sea, and the Wicklow Mountains. The route combines woodland trails, dirt paths, rocky sections, and open cliffside viewpoints. The climb to the summit cross is relatively short but steep in places, with some uneven terrain and light scrambling near the top. On a clear day, visibility stretches for miles, making this an excellent location for landscape photography and learning how to work with depth, scale, and changing natural light. **Walk details** * Grade: Moderate * Distance: \~5.5 km loop * Terrain: Uneven trails, rocky sections, woodland paths *** ### **This is for you if you want to** ✅ Get more comfortable using your camera beyond Auto ✅ Understand shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and exposure in real situations ✅ Improve landscape and outdoor composition ✅ Learn how to work with changing weather and natural light ✅ Meet other photographers and creative people *** ### **Benefits** * Experience Bray differently by actively observing instead of just walking * Learn faster through practical shooting rather than passive tutorials * Build confidence shooting outdoors in unpredictable conditions * Get feedback and inspiration from other photographers *** ### **What to bring** 📷 Any camera (phones are absolutely fine) 👟 Comfortable walking shoes with good grip ☔ Weather-appropriate clothing 💧 Water/snacks 💰 Money for coffee or food after the walk *** ### **Weather note** If conditions are too poor or unsafe for the hike, we’ll still meet in Bray and turn the session into a photography discussion and photo review meetup instead of cancelling. *** ### **Important** 🔔 This is a casual, peer-led meetup. You are responsible for your own safety and equipment. Some sections of the trail are uneven and can become muddy or slippery after rain. Please assess your own fitness and comfort level before joining. Dogs are welcome but should remain on a lead. *** ### **Leave No Trace / Outdoor Ethics** Please help keep the trail enjoyable for everyone: * Dispose of waste properly * Respect wildlife and nature * Be considerate of walkers and cyclists * Leave what you find * Keep dogs on a lead * Respect local residents and trail users *** ### **GDPR / Consent** By joining, you consent to being photographed by other participants. Always ask permission before photographing identifiable individuals outside the group. Respect refusals. Extra care is required when photographing minors. *** ### **Transport / Carpool** Need a lift or want to share a ride? You can join our [WhatsApp group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/H0ld8u1MvjhGkVB2YijHPz?mode=gi_t) to coordinate transport with other participants, ask for a lift, or arrange carpooling.

We've survived the Winter, and are looking forward to a busy Summer! To kick things off we're partnering with **MongoDB** to bring you our latest Meetup. We'll be hosted by **MongoDB** in their Dublin office on **Thursday 21st May from 6:00pm** and we'll have two speakers for you that evening. **MongoDB** need very little in the way of introduction, they've a strong presence here in the Irish tech scene and are big supporters of other communities we're all part of. We're delighted to have finally made that connection now ourselves here at Go Ireland and look forward to what's to come over the next few years together. We've got two speakers for you for this Meetup, the first is a Go Ireland regular Dmytro Lahoza, and the second is MongoDB's own Andrei Matei who'll be coming over from Manchester to join us on the night. **"MongoDB × Go: Inside the Ecosystem and How It Runs at Scale" with Andrei Matei - Software Engineer at MongoDB** **"Plugins Without Borders: A Language-Agnostic Plugin System for Go and Beyond"** **with Dmytro Lahoza - Software Engineer at Verda** Big thanks again to **MongoDB** who'll be supporting us for this entire event. As always, you'll be fed, watered, and we'll head to a pub nearby after the event to keep the conversations going. We've also got a new home on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/go-ire), going forward this will be the best place to find updates.

🔐 **Hack and Chill – Weekly Meetup** 🔐 📍 **Tog Hackerspace** \| 🕖 **Fridays, 7–9 PM** *(Except the first Friday of the month – we’re at 2600 Dublin then!)* Are you into cybersecurity, hardware hacking, or just love the hacker mindset? Bring your laptop, your curiosity, and your latest digital mischief to our chill Friday night sessions. No talks, no pressure — just hacking, learning, and chatting with like-minded folks in a relaxed space. 💻 BYO projects, hacks, and war stories ☕ Tea, tools, and toggers provided 💬 New faces always welcome Come hang out. We don’t bite — unless you’re a vulnerable service. https://www.tog.ie/2025/08/new-weekly-group-night-hack-and-chill/

✨ We are delighted to be hosted by Liberty IT this month. 🎤 Talk details will be coming soon. 📚 And thanks to [Packt](https://www.packtpub.com/), we have a physical book to raffle after the talk: * [Python Illustrated: Not another boring Python book, learn programming the fun way](https://www.packtpub.com/en-us/product/python-illustrated-9781836646327) by Maaike van Putten and Imke van Putten \-\-\- 🎟️ **PLEASE REGISTER ON LUMA TO ATTEND:** **[https://luma.com/pm0gpsda](https://luma.com/pm0gpsda)** \-\-\- **​Schedule (\*subject to change)** * ​18:30 Event Starts * ​18:40 Welcome and Introductions * ​18:50 Talk: Learning in Public, Again by Sarah Novotny * 19:15 Networking after * ​20:30 Event Ends **TALK DETAILS:** **TALK 1: Learning in Public, Again** (10-20 mins) I spent two decades building software communities. Kubernetes, NGINX, MySQL. And then I moved to Dublin and enrolled in a master's programme in political science at Trinity College. People have asked me why I took a left turn away from a perfectly good career. The honest answer is that I kept running into questions my industry experience couldn't answer. How do open source communities actually function as political systems? What does "technological sovereignty" mean when the phrase shows up in EU regulation, national security strategy, and corporate marketing decks, all in the same week? Why is corporate investment in OSS not patently obvious? I needed different tools. So I learned Python. Not the "I'll automate a spreadsheet" kind. The "I'm running topic models on 1,600 EU consultation responses to figure out who is shaping digital policy and how" kind. I learned statistics. I learned how to scrape legislative databases. I learned how to be bad at something in front of people half my age, which, if you've spent twenty years being the expert in the room, is its own special discipline. This talk is about what happens when you decide the next interesting problem matters more than the comfort of the last solved one. It's about moving countries, going back to school, picking up a programming language for the first time in decades, and discovering that the willingness to be a beginner is a skill that compounds. Whether you're 25 and pivoting, 45 and reinventing, or anywhere in between, the capacity to start over is not a concession. It's a superpower. **About Sarah Novotny** Sarah Novotny is a technology executive renowned for her pioneering leadership in open source, cloud computing, infrastructure automation, and big data.. She has led an Open Source Ecosystem and Strategy group for both Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform. During her tenure at Google, Sarah played a pivotal role in expanding the Kubernetes open source project leadership and represented the company during the founding of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation. At her core, she is driven by the ethos of open-source collaboration – where every line of code and every contributor interaction contributes to a greater collective purpose. She believes in fostering mutual aid and community care to build bridges across diverse coding languages and experiences. * [https://sarahnovotny.com](https://sarahnovotny.com/) * [https://linkedin.com/in/sarahnovotny](https://linkedin.com/in/sarahnovotny) **TALK 2: I'm a Software Engineer and I (Barely) Code** (10-15 mins) I dabbled in coding for years while working as a library manager, learning to write "Hello World" in at least four languages before moving to Belfast and coding my way through a master's degree in Software Development. I took my first job as a software engineer only to find that - surprise! - I barely code at all. I work in Machine Learning Operations, and while I touch a whole lot of Python code, most of my time is spent working with configuration files and infrastructure-as-code. Can I still call myself a software engineer if I'm not writing code? What does this mean when I’m faced with the next inevitable coding assessment, at this job or the next? This talk raises questions about what defines a software engineer in a world of increased software abstraction and, while I promise I won't talk too much about it, AI. **ABOUT Frances Veit** Associate Software Engineer, Liberty IT Frances is originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, but has called Northern Ireland home since 2018. She holds a Master's degree in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master's in Software Development from Queen's University, Belfast. Frances is glad to have done her software training before AI was on the scene, but she's equally grateful to have an on-screen mentor while she figures out what she's doing. When she's not not-coding, she's at the beach with her two little kids, or baking. * [https://linkedin.com/in/frances-veit-49169926/](https://linkedin.com/in/frances-veit-49169926/) \-\-\- 🎟️ **PLEASE REGISTER ON LUMA TO ATTEND:** **[https://luma.com/pm0gpsda](https://luma.com/pm0gpsda)** \-\-\- **💖 THANKS** **Sponsors** * [Liberty IT](https://www.liberty-it.ie/about-us/overview): Hosting * [Packt](https://www.packtpub.com/): Raffle prize **Community Partners:** * [Coding Grace](https://codinggrace.com/) * [PSF](https://www.python.org/psf/): Meetup * [PyLadies](https://pyladies.com/) 🔍 **FAQ** **Note that all our events are 18s+. Although this a social event, it's a professional networking event, please refer to the [Code of Conduct](https://dublin.pyladies.com), e.g. behave as you would attending a work event.** **Q. I'm not female, is it ok for me to attend?** A. Yes, PyLadies Dublin events are open to everyone at all levels. We encourage non-female attendees to suggest a female friend/colleague to sign up to the event. So bring a friend! ✨ **Q. Do you have a Code of Conduct?** A. Yes, you can find it at [dublin.pyladies.com](https://dublin.pyladies.com/) **Q. I am interested in giving a talk at PyLadies Dublin, where do I submit my interest, workshop, and talk details?** A. You can submit your talk details to the following form: [https://sessionize.com/pyladies-dublin-meetup](https://sessionize.com/pyladies-dublin-meetup) 🤔 Any other enquiries (e.g. getting involved, sponsoring), email [dublin@pyladies.com](http://dublin@pyladies.com%2A%2A/)

**For this meetup the venue may be subject to change** New people who know nothing about Linux are welcome and encouraged to attend, please don't be shy. If you are new please feel free to approach one of the organisers, and we'd be only happy to help explain things as best as we can, we honestly don't mind and don't judge. We were new once ourselves :) Please note that in general, these are adult friendly meetups, therefore, we are not responsible for those under 18 in attendance. We may have events targeted at children in the future. As with any Meetup, please try to stick to your RSVP or change it to No if you can't come.

TOG will be open on Tuesday evenings from 19:00 to 21:30 for a general Open House event. Expect to find members and visitors in the space up to all sorts of activities. It's a great time to drop in and see what the space is about. If you're an artist, tinkerer, maker or just plain curious, come in and see what the space is about. Maybe you already have something to work on (or want to), have something to fix, create, design, bodge or tinker... drop in. We're also open for just for plain old social chat and hang out, with plenty of tea, coffee and biscuits. We have lots of free parking right outside our door.

Speaker: Neill Sweeney I will look back at a project I worked on a decade ago. I will outline the business problem, how I approached it and how it went live. Stochastic gradient method, discrete choice model, significance testing and purchasing power parity will be mentioned.

NFT's are here to stay folks! This is a group for like minded people interested in understanding, leveraging, using, creating for, profiting from, trading too i suppose, NFT's.. everything around them, complexity, fear and exploits, best practices and more. **PLUS** This group will talk AI ART tools, techniques, artists, video, audio, prototypes and more in the AI assisted production space- ART specifically, but we can get into any aspect of some of the cooler things happening in AI in general.

Whether you've never done improv before, or you've done it for so long you knew Del Close on a personal level, or anywhere in between, come join us! Swing by *Gresso's* for the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup** for some fun and games! The idea behind improv is to create entire scenes from scratch based on a suggestion from the audience. This can be done in game form, like *Whose Line Is It Anyway*, *ComedySportz*, or *Wild 'n Out*; it could also be done to tell stories, like *Middleditch and Schwartz*. Our meetup, which is central Ohio's longest running (and free!) weekly comedy event, brings the games (and occasionally different forms) for you to play in a safe, supportive, and compassionate environment. Not only is it a lot of fun, but you get to work on thinking faster on your feet, plus it's an excellent way to meet new people and make friendships that'll last a lifetime! Ask yourself if you want to join the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup**, and say "Yes, And" that you'll have fun!

**Building a great product is one thing—building momentum behind it is another.** Join **Senior Product Manager Adam Solaiman** and **User Experience Manager Tyson Smith** for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to turn complex ideas into scalable products inside large organizations. In this session, they’ll share how teams move from ambiguity to execution—navigating organizational complexity, aligning stakeholders, and continuously evolving products after launch. You’ll walk away with insights on how to: * Build and sustain momentum across teams * Adapt to changing priorities without losing direction * Scale products thoughtfully in complex environments Whether you're driving a new initiative or growing an existing product, this conversation will give you practical strategies to keep things moving forward. Come connect, learn, and swap stories with fellow product professionals. \-\-\- Food and drinks will be provided by Switchbox, our generous host. Free parking will be available at the front and back sides of the Switchbox Office.

PLEASE NOTE!!! This event will be In-Person for our very 1st Improving collab! If you know the [Columbus Unity group](https://www.meetup.com/columbus-unity-user-group/) location, we'll be at the same place. This is our 1st event and are doing a soft launch with limited attendance. 1st come 1st serve. If you want to be there and we fill up, please email me at [info@thecogg.com](mailto:info@thecogg.com) and I'll be in touch. All street parking is free on Sundays but you can also pay to park in any of the local garages. See image of [parking map here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Mr9_LFIggbs-0_Zd3AJTGNqEhgMf2TzQ/view?usp=sharing). \-\-\- On the last Sunday of the month, we're having our usual end-of-the-month social gathering with our GameDev Meetup meeting. There will be announcements and presentations followed by some social networking Let's continue the conversations with good vibes and friends. All are welcomed from all ages and backgrounds to this public event. If we can, we'll be streaming or uploading the video later via our COGG YouTube channel here: [https://www.youtube.com/@TheCOGG/streams](https://www.youtube.com/@TheCOGG/streams) (Also please do subscribe if you have not done so!) No game development experience required! If you are interested in doing a 20 minute game development related presentation, please fill out our form online here: [https://goo.gl/forms/lVdTJZiNJewlPJuj1](https://goo.gl/forms/lVdTJZiNJewlPJuj1) Or e-mail us at info@thecogg.com with the following: Your Name, Company/Affiliation, Name of Your Game/Topic, Description, Tech Needs, and Your Contact. Be sure to check out our Discord for real time news updates: [https://discord.gg/NrBhuNQ](https://discord.gg/NrBhuNQ)

Come attend a free in-person seminar where you will find out why you: -Feel isolated -Can't express yourself openly -Get nervous or anxious in front of people -Run out of things to say or feel tongue-tied -Feel introverted -Don't feel comfortable in any social setting -Can't make more friends -Are shy and miss opportunities to connect in a meaningful way And we cover what you can do about any one, some or all of the above. This seminar is the weapon against loneliness, isolation and boredom, come join us! COME TO THIS SEMINAR AND LEARN THE SECRETS TODAY This seminar is brought to you by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center. 1266 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43215

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** TBD **YouTube Link** TBD

Join the Columbus AI community for our quarterly gathering — a casual, community-focused evening where everyone has a chance to share, learn, and connect. These open mic–style events give anyone in the community up to **5 minutes** to present a project, share a tool, pose a question, or offer a perspective on the evolving AI space. No slides required — just a welcoming space to exchange ideas and keep the local AI conversation moving. If you’d like to take the stage, message \*\*Chris (the organizer)\*\*with a **title and short description** of what you’d like to share. Whether you’re deep in the field or just getting curious, come connect with others building and exploring AI in Columbus. Sponsored by [Transform Labs](https://www.linkedin.com/company/transformlabs/) Sign up also accessible via [Transform Labs Luma](https://luma.com/transformlabshq)