Remote employment has facilitated flexibility, reduced commuting and closer involvement in local community life, all creating a better balance between home life and professional commitments. However, working remotely can also bring on feelings of isolation and loneliness for individual employees.
Grow Remote community events have been designed to close this very gap.
In the first three months of 2026, remote employees nationwide have been building community and facilitating connection.
69 events have already taken place across the country this year, welcoming 452 remote workers. Behind those numbers are hundreds of individual moments: coffee shared with a stranger who turned out to be a neighbour, a one-off board game night that turned into a regular gathering, a sauna session that sparked friendships better than any networking event ever could.
Remote workers in Munster are leading the charge. 30 events took place across the province, drawing 236 attendees – a strong signal that the appetite for local connection among remote workers is not slowing down.
But what’s the impact of these events?
90% of survey respondents met interesting people and had fun
80% of survey respondents feel more connected to their community
30% of survey respondents learned more about the remote ecosystem, jobs and hubs
What People Are Doing Together
One of the most important things Grow Remote has learned over the years is that remote workers do not need a single event format. They need options.
The data from Q1 reflects that well. “Group Activities” made up the largest share of events at 59%, while “After Work Socials” accounted for 38%. That split matters, because it tells us something about who is showing up and why.
The After Work Socials is basically a drink in a pub. This familiar format provides a predictable space and a low social barrier to entry – people know what to expect! Group Activities, on the other hand, are a real mix of experiences and usually spring from the individual preferences of our volunteers. Across Q1, remote workers came together for sauna sessions, board game nights, food events, talks with pizza, and casual co-working with lunch. These are not traditional networking events. They are shared, local experiences that make connection feel natural and creative.
One attendee who attended a smaller sauna event summed it up:
“It was a smaller and cosier event type. Met some great and interesting people! Will defo attend more sauna events here.”
Grow Remote also builds community partnerships with other organisations and initiatives. Seven events took place for Daffodil Day, a fundraising day for the Irish Cancer Society. In March, 13 volunteers from the Grow Remote community got involved in local campaigns and contributed to raising over €28,360 for Daffodil Day, all of which will support victims of cancer.
The Experience Matters
We ask attendees for their honest feedback after every event. The headline number from Q1 is a 9.2 NPS score – a strong endorsement from people who have experienced these events firsthand and would recommend them to others. After 69 events, a few clear themes stand out behind that score.
Belonging is the word that comes up again and again. Remote workers are finding, in these rooms, a community of people who understand what it means to work from home – the good parts and the harder parts.
“The group was lovely and welcoming, and it was really great to be able to get out of the house and connect with people who understand what it’s like to work from home and remotely.”
“It was lovely to see people again that I met at the last event as well as new people. I feel as though there’s a great community forming and we’re all sharing our knowledge and offering to help others.”
For those who are new to an area or feeling the quiet isolation that remote work can sometimes bring, these events are proving to be more than a social outing.
“Great way for remote workers to meet others – especially if isolated via WFH or new to a town.”
One attendee told us they had already recommended the events to two people since attending.
Variety and format also came through strongly. The breadth of activity on offer in Q1 meant that people who might not attend a typical pub social found their way in through a different door. As one attendee put it:
“Aside from the organisers (who I had met before), it allowed me to meet a diverse group of people I may never have bumped into otherwise.”
The food-and-conversation formula continues to resonate too.
“Great opportunity to meet new people, get out of the house, eat lovely food.”
From Cloughjordan’s good fresh local food to surprise pizza at a talks event, sharing a meal remains one of the most natural ways to build community.
Local Leaders Making It Real
None of this happens without people on the ground choosing to make it happen. Local leaders booked the venues, sent the reminders, welcomed newcomers at the door and made sure everyone felt included. Attendees noticed.
“The event was well organised, and the local leader was very friendly and welcoming to all attendees new and regular alike. There was a real sense of community as we were all local and living in the same place.”
“It was well organised and Mary was very welcoming. Lovely people, so friendly and open.”
That consistency – a welcoming host, a reliable format, a group that keeps coming back – is what turns a one-off event into a community. We welcome new local leaders every month.
This month, we also marked International Women’s Day and platformed some of our Local Leaders in our community. Have a look at the image below!
What We Are Listening To
Not all the feedback is without challenge, and that is how it should be. Some attendees would like more structure or purpose to certain formats. Others called for more effort to bring introverted attendees into the fold – more games, paired activities, or icebreakers that remove the pressure of cold conversation.
These are good signals. They come from people who care about these events enough to want them to be better. As always, we are listening.
The first quarter of 2026 shows a community in motion. 69 events. 452 people. Hundreds of new connections made across Ireland.
If you have not found your local group yet, now is a great time to start!
Find your local chapter via the Grow Remote website or start up the next one yourself by becoming a Local Leader. Join our April Local Leader Info Session by registering here.
