Remote work can give people more freedom, but it can also present challenges. Days can pass with no real human connection beyond a screen. This is the specific problem that Grow Remote’s community work is designed to solve since we started doing this back in 2018. By making it easier for remote workers to meet in real life, in their local community, we are building connection and promoting inclusion.
Across Ireland this year, the momentum continued to grow. Volunteers led 272 local events for remote workers; 2,160 remote workers, to be exact. In Munster, the pace was particularly strong. 135 community events took place across the region, drawing 1,178 attendees.
Behind those numbers are the people who made them real: the local leaders who started WhatsApp groups, made reservations, welcomed newcomers at the door, followed up afterwards and made sure everyone was invited to the next one! We welcome new local leaders every month.
Some events were simple, familiar, and reliable: an After Work Social is the kind of gathering where you know exactly what to expect; a drink in a pub with good conversation. Other events were designed for movement and shared experiences, with Group Activities shaping almost half of the time remote workers spent together. These included dog walks, brunch, coffee meetups, sports events, hiking, co-working in a hub, cookery classes, a sea swim. You name it!
The Grow Remote Community Experience
At these meetups, the most important thing is the experience. We ask every single attendee (all 2,160 of them!) to fill out a survey so that we can learn what’s working and what’s not working at each event. After 272 events this year, the data adds up!
One attendee described the Grow Remote experience like this: “The vibe is really nice. People know the goal of the event is to connect and the environment is perfectly set up for that. Very chill and no pressure“.
Another (based in Limerick) spoke about the simple power of being welcomed and introduced properly, crediting their organiser by name: “Ben, our organiser always arranges events meticulously. He’s there first to make sure everybody’s welcomed and everyone introduced. He sends reminders on the group chat and forwards pictures with peoples consent afterwards. Ben makes the night flow well.“
Someone who joined a padel event put it plainly: “Padel Tennis was great fun and highly social – great format being able to play 20 mins on / 20 mins off or so and getting to meet new people. Great night and will go again.“
Another attendee summed up the Grow Remote effect in the simplest way: “Really enjoyed the event, it was great in every aspect, well organised and i met loads of new people“. For others, the setting itself mattered. One participant said: “The event was so important for remote workers to feel connection with others and spend some quality time discussing and visiting Republic of Work space . The more event like this one the better“.
That undeniable sense of connection shows up in the data too. Of the remote workers who attended a Grow Remote event this year,
- 97% of survey respondents agreed they “met with interesting people and had fun”
- 80% agreed they “feel more connected to my local community”
- 32% agreed they “learned something new about remote work or the remote ecosystem in Ireland”.
- Over 272 events, the overall NPS was 77%
Community Partnerships
The Grow Remote community also has another set of characters: the hubs and local charitable organisations that bring people together. In Kinsale, Alan Clayton at K-Works described how Grow Remote became woven into the daily life of the place:
“The Grow Remote community in Kinsale has become part of the hub community and has served as a hub host in exchange for working here for the day. They also hosted a Local Leader retreat in our space.””
In Skibbereen, the partnership with Ludgate Hub reflected the wider effect of consistent support and consistent connection. Katy Wareng put it like this:
“Partnering with Grow Remote has been genuinely transformative for us at Ludgate. Their support – from funding community lunches to helping us grow visibility and connection – has brought people together in ways that go far beyond the Hub walls. If your Hub hasn’t yet teamed up with them, you’re missing out – the ripple effect for your community is incredible.”
Sometimes the impact travels beyond the remote work ecosystem entirely. In Cork, Hannah McGovern at Cork Simon described what happens when remote workers turn up not just for themselves, but for their community:
“Grow Remote have time and time again provided invaluable support through their members who have volunteered to help out at the Annual Cork Simon Ball, Yoga in the Park and IE Style Live. At Cork Simon, we do have a strong network of committed volunteers, however Remote Workers (who are often working at high levels in their day jobs) bring a unique calibre of practical skills and experience such as sales, event management and IT solutions all of which are needed and valued at our fundraising events. ”
We also saw a Grow Remote collaboration with charity ALONE, which resulted in volunteers donating their time to the cause. There was a free co-work day in Republic of Work, creating a space not just to work alongside others but to chat and feel a sense of belonging.
Grow Remote Local Leaders
Local leaders are the heartbeat of our impact.
Catherine O’Connor shared her motivation simply: “Grow Remote provides a social outlet and networking opportunities for Remote workers like me, I want to help share this with other remote workers”.
Sudharshana Vijayendra described leadership as an active choice to build something with others: “I chose to become a local leader because I believe in the power of working together. Collaboration brings out the best ideas and helps build stronger, more connected communities. My goal is to create a space where everyone feels heard, valued, and supported. I’m motivated by the chance to bring people together to solve real problems. Together, we can make a lasting impact and create positive change.”
For Luminus Olumide Alabi, the bigger picture matters too, and it connects local community in Waterford to a national opportunity: “Talent is universal but opportunity is not, and so if you are able to remove location as a limiting factor. You’ll end of getting talented people… that can do the job your looking for and be able to do it and bring that impact.“
Boram Kim, leading in North Kerry, spoke about what happens over time when people keep showing up: “I became a local leader for Grow Remote North Kerry in seeking a community of remote workers in the area. It’s been a year since I helped organise an event for the first time. I am delighted to have met like-minded people who want to stay connected to other fellow remote workers and to explore arts, sports, and charity actions that are available locally as a group.”
Michael O’Connor in Tralee described the core aim in a few direct words: “To meet other like-minded leaders and remote workers. Creating a sense of community and enabling remote workers to share experiences of remote working in Ireland.”
Aisling Finucane in Tipperary summed up the value of community-building as a way of working in the world: “I am a great believer in the power of collaboration, cooperation and community. I thrive in a space where we can find synergies and links in unexpected and exciting ways an I feel like Grow Remote as an organisation really fits with this ”
Put together, that was the 2025: thousands of in-person connections and dozens of communities kept alive by remote workers who believe in the power of community! To find out more, join us for our next info session on creating a local impact in your community!
