Why Old Networking Doesn’t Work—And What Local Businesses Need Instead
For years, groups like BNI (Business Network International) were the way to network locally. Weekly meetups. Elevator pitches. Business cards. Referral tracking. And for a while, that worked. But let’s be honest: the world has changed, and so has business.Today, that…
Ireland’s Presidential Election Results: Real Change Starts Close to Home
Congratulations to Catherine Connolly, Ireland’s new President. It’s an important moment for our country — and one that feels like a call for change.
Many people see the result as proof that Ireland wants something different. Maybe that’s true — but voting …
Visibility and Connection: Why Your Business Needs Both Public and Private Spaces to Grow
Most local business owners think they have to choose between: Getting more visibilityor Finding genuine support from other business owners But the truth is, you need both—and that’s exactly what we’ve built at Virginia Pages. Let’s break it down. The Public Side: The…
How Local Directories Help Your Business Show Up in AI Search (Even If You Don’t Have a Website)
If you’ve ever searched for a service near you and chosen a business from the top few results, congratulations, you just interacted with AI-powered search. What most people don’t realize is: Those top results often come from trusted local directories, not just…
AI Isn’t Magic—But It Can Work Magic for Your Local Business
There’s a lot of hype (and confusion) around Artificial Intelligence (AI) right now.Some people think it’s taking over. Others think it’s only for big tech. Many small business owners don’t see how it affects them at all. But here’s the truth: AI already impacts how…
Claim Your Local Business Listing on Virginia Pages
Get your business found by locals in Virginia, Co. Cavan! Virginia Pages Business is the trusted local directory where people search for services, check reviews, and contact businesses directly. Claim your profile today, showcase your services, link your website and…
Stop Scrolling, Start Showing Up
Stop Scrolling. Start Showing Up. Why Posting on Facebook Isn’t the Same as Being Found. You might be posting on Facebook every week — maybe even every day.But here’s the truth most people don’t realise: Very few people ever visit your actual Facebook page.They see…
The Blue Dot and the Customer Experience: Why Being Found Is Only the Beginning
For over 5 years, I shopped online at our local supermarket. It was reliable, convenient, and connected me to a familiar place in my own community. Then, the shop was sold to a multinational chain and suddenly, I became a blue dot on the map again. I had to find a new…
The Blue Dot Meets the Town – Rebuilding Local Conections in Virginia
The Blue Dot Meets the Town: Rebuilding Local Connection in Virginia, Co Cavan Remember the Golden Pages?Back then, you opened a book and found exactly who you needed, a plumber, a dressmaker, a mechanic, or an accountant, local, reliable, and easy to reach. Today,…
Virginia Pages Network: Your Digital Community Centre
Virginia Pages Network: Your Digital Community Centre Imagine a modern, welcoming community centre built just for the people of Virginia and surrounding areas. Inside this centre, there’s a warm and inclusive common space where everyone can stop in, say hello, and see…
The Systems Are in Place – Now Let’s Use Them!
The Systems Are in Place—Now Let’s Use Them! Over the past couple of years, we’ve been quietly building something meaningful, a connected, locally-focused set of tools to help our community in Virginia, Co. Cavan share, communicate, and thrive together. ✅ We have…
Why Strong Local Communities Matter More Than Ever
Why Strong Local Communities Matter More Than Ever In today’s fast-moving world, decisions about the services we rely on healthcare, transport, housing, education are often made far from the places they affect most. Without strong local communities, our voices can be…
More Than Just a Course: What Makes Learning Inside Virginia Pages Different
More Than Just a Course: What Makes Learning Inside Virginia Pages Different In Virginia Pages Network, we’re not here to compete, we’re here to create. And one of the things we’re most excited about is how we can use this platform to offer real, lasting learning…
This time, I have the tools
This Time, I Have the Tools A few years ago, I reached a point where I felt I was pushing a boulder uphill. I had the passion, the ideas, and the vision for a stronger, more connected community but I didn’t yet have the structure or support to build something that…
Spotlight on Community Voices: The Virginia Roundup Podcast
Spotlight on Community Voices: The Virginia Roundup Podcast We’re delighted to see more ways for people in Virginia to connect and stay informed about what’s happening in our town. One of the newest additions is The Virginia Roundup, a monthly podcast that shines a…
Building a Future by Living it Now
Ireland has been spending millions investigating past failures inquiries, reports, and compensation schemes. While these efforts offer some justice and recognition, they don’t change what happened. We can’t undo the past. But we can stop repeating it. What are we…
From Living Here to Belonging Here
There’s a big difference between living in a place and feeling like you truly belong there. Living somewhere means having an address, a routine, and perhaps even a few familiar faces. But belonging? That’s something deeper. It’s knowing you are part of something…
A Place for All Voices: The Power of Independent Community Networks
In every town, there are stories waiting to be told, ideas ready to be shared, and people who care deeply about where they live. But more often than not, those voices get lost — drowned out by long meetings, top-down decisions, and groups that are hard to access…
I Don’t Know Everything – And That’s the Point
For years, my job was designing systems to move millions of pieces of freight. I was often reminded, jokingly but truthfully that I never moved a single box myself. And they were right. But what I did do was help people track what they were moving, streamline their…
We’ve built the Digital Virginia, now it’s time to bring it to life!
The Virginia Pages Story 7 years of listening. One place to bring it all together. Virginia Pages began with a simple idea:What if there was one place where the people of Virginia could truly connect, a Digital Virginia? For 7 years, we’ve been listening, online and…
What Does Community Mean to Me?
Reflections on belonging—big and small When we talk about “community” in the context of Virginia Pages, I think of it simply as:Everyone who lives or works in Virginia and the surrounding areas. That’s our starting point. We don’t need to share the same beliefs,…
We Need Strong Communities Now More Than Ever
We Need Strong Communities Now More Than Everby Helen Rahill | Jun 10, 2025 | 0 commentsLooking after our own shouldn’t be radical, it should be the norm. This week, another deeply troubling report came out, this time about the treatment of elderly people in Irish…