What does “Do you think I came up the Bann in a bubble?” really mean? Or “You’ll be some pup when your tail grows”?

When Rural Action launched the idea of developing A Little Book of Rural Sayings, we wanted to capture some of the words and phrases passed down through families and communities for generations. What followed surprised even us.

More than 1,000 sayings were submitted and the campaign reached hundreds of thousands of people. But people did not simply send us words. Many told us who used to say them, where they remembered hearing them and the people and places they associated with them.

It reminded us of something important: rural identity matters and rural voices matter too.

People, place and purpose

At Rural Action, our approach is centred on People, Place and Purpose.

A rural community is much more than a collection of houses or a point on a map. It is shaped by its people, the places where they meet and the sense of belonging and shared purpose that encourages people to contribute.

We see this through another recent Rural Action initiative - Shining a Light - which celebrates rural villages that may rarely feature in the wider public conversation. By visiting places such as Stewartstown, Benburb and Ederney, we look beyond the road signs to the people, history, community activity and character that make each place distinctive.

Both campaigns reinforce something we see throughout our work: rural communities have a strong sense of identity, pride in place and ambition for their future.

Celebrating rural heritage matters, but so does asking what kind of community future generations will inherit. Will people be able to live, work and build a future there, and will rural people help shape those places?

Listening to rural communities

There are realities associated with rural living. Distances are greater, populations are more dispersed and delivering some services can be more complex. But geography should not automatically mean fewer opportunities.

DAERA's recent consultation on Rural NI: Our New Approach 2026–2041 provides important insight into what rural people and organisations are saying. When respondents were asked about priorities for future rural policy, 65% identified improving access to services and infrastructure, with transport and digital connectivity frequently cited as barriers to rural life.

These findings reflect what we hear directly from communities and highlight both the challenges of rurality and the considerable assets, knowledge and potential within rural places.

The question is not only “How will this policy affect rural communities?”, but also “How can rural communities help shape it?”

Turning local ideas into action

Across Rural Action's work in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties, we see organisations, volunteers and social enterprises responding to local needs: maintaining community buildings, developing services, bringing people together and finding new uses for local assets. What they often need is the capacity, investment and connections to turn local ideas into sustainable action.

We see this through our two PEACEPLUS programmes – Maximising Community Space, supporting organisations to make better and more sustainable use of community spaces, and RiSE (Rural Innovation and Social Enterprise), helping organisations explore innovation and social enterprise. We also see it through our Rural Action Awards, which provide small grants to help volunteer-led groups turn local ideas into action.

Different approaches, but a consistent message: rural communities have ideas, assets and people willing to make things happen.

Working alongside communities gives us insight into the challenges they face and solutions they are developing. Sharing that experience can help rural perspectives contribute to wider conversations about policy and investment.

Building on the opportunity

DAERA's consultation demonstrates the value of listening directly to rural people and organisations. Several areas offer particular opportunities for continued collaboration.

One is rural participation. Rural proofing provides an important mechanism for considering rural needs, while ongoing engagement can bring lived experience into the development of policy and services.

Another is continued investment in rural community capacity and infrastructure. Community buildings enable people to meet, access services, volunteer and develop local initiatives. Leadership, governance, skills and sustainable income matter too.

This is strongly reflected in DAERA's consultation, where 91% of respondents agreed that long-term investment in voluntary and community groups would help ensure diverse rural voices are heard. Respondents highlighted sustainable funding, governance, staffing, volunteer support and investment in community facilities.

Rural social enterprise also has significant potential to diversify income, create employment and respond to local needs. Development support, networks and access to finance can help communities build long-term resilience.

Strong rural communities and effective public policy work best when they complement one another, recognising the contribution government, community organisations and other partners can each make.

Connecting today with tomorrow

Perhaps there is a connection between collecting a rural saying and shining a light on a small village that is easily overlooked. Both start by paying attention.

One shares the words and memories that matter to people; the other reveals the people, activity and stories behind a rural place.

Our Rural Sayings campaign is helping preserve some of the words of generations before us. Shining a Light is telling the stories of rural places today. Through our programmes, we work alongside the people and organisations shaping what comes next.

DAERA's emerging rural policy presents an important opportunity to build on this. Its ambition to understand, champion and support rural Northern Ireland is one Rural Action shares, and the consultation provides a valuable foundation on which government, rural organisations and communities can continue to build together.

The opportunity now is to keep listening, connecting and collaborating so that rural experience continues to inform the future of rural Northern Ireland.

Because rural communities should not simply be places whose past we value or whose present we celebrate. They should be places whose future we are ambitious about.

Teresa Canavan is the Founder and Chief Executive of Rural Action, a social purpose organisation working across Northern Ireland and the Border Counties.

With over 30 years’ experience in community development, Teresa is passionate about championing rural people and places, strengthening communities and ensuring rural voices are heard in the decisions that shape their future.

In 2026, Teresa received the CO3 Leadership in a Small Organisation/Charity Award, recognising her leadership and contribution to the voluntary and community sector. She was also named Leader of the Year at the Social Enterprise NI Awards 2026, further recognising her dedication, vision and commitment to creating positive change in rural communities.

Through Rural Action, she continues to champion collaboration, innovation and practical solutions that help rural communities thrive.

A Little Book of Rural Sayings - coming soon

Following an incredible response of more than 1,000 sayings submitted by people across Northern Ireland and the Border Counties, Rural Action is preparing to launch ‘A Little Book of Rural Sayings’ on 4th November 2026.

Packed with familiar expressions, local humour and treasured memories, the book celebrates the words and sayings that connect generations and communities.

And there is an even bigger purpose behind it. This little book is more than a celebration of rural heritage: it's a purchase with purpose. Every copy sold supports the Rural Action Awards, funding volunteer-led rural projects that create lasting positive change.

Keep an eye on www.ruralaction.co and Rural Action's social media channels for details on how to purchase your copy of  ‘A little book of Rural Sayings’ – Inspired by Rural People, Collated by Rural Action, Supporting Rural Communities.