About us
SocialTies is a community-first social network that gives every local group – from clubs and schools to special interest communities, a dedicated digital home.
In an age of fragmented messaging apps and generic social platforms, most communities still lack a space designed specifically for their needs. SocialTies solves this by offering a hyperlocal platform where members can connect, stay informed, and engage meaningfully with one another. It brings together everything – from news and event updates to training resources and discussions – into one central space that reflects the identity of the community it serves. Unlike mass-market social media, SocialTies is built for real relationships, shared purpose, and trusted local connection. It’s where communities thrive, and where local businesses can meaningfully support and engage their audience.
Who are we...
- Co-founded by former Kilkenny hurler Walter Walsh, the platform brings everything a community needs into one place: exclusive content, live sports fixtures and results, event updates, ticketing, community insights and more, all wrapped in a branded, local-first experience. It’s a one-stop shop for communities ready to modernise how they connect and grow.
- But SocialTies isn’t just for members, it’s built with local business in mind. Through its Community Shared Advertising Model, businesses can directly support their county team while reaching highly engaged local audiences with precision-targeted advertising. It’s marketing that delivers ROI, and gives back at the same time.
- Beyond sport, SocialTies is helping communities thrive through learning. Its integrated education platform provides webinars, tutorials, and tailored resources designed to upskill members and support development both on and off the pitch.
What we do...
SocialTies was founded to solve a broken system, where local communities and interest groups lacked the digital tools they deserved, and local businesses were paying global platforms that gave nothing back.
- The platform consolidates everything that matters to a community into one branded app, streamlining how local organisations communicate, coordinate, and engage.
- A standout example is Kilkenny Cats, the official digital home of Kilkenny GAA. Previously, fans had to juggle WhatsApp, websites, and social feeds just to stay informed. Now, all updates, streams, and conversations live in one place, reflecting the pride, identity, and rhythm of the county. For the organisation, it simplifies operations. For supporters, it enhances the experience. For businesses, it creates direct access to one of Ireland’s most passionate and loyal audiences.
- Through its Community Shared Advertising Model, SocialTies also unlocks meaningful revenue opportunities. Businesses can run targeted campaigns inside trusted community spaces, reaching people by location, interest, and affiliation – not just by vague demographics. 50% of all ad revenue is returned to the community, as seen in Kilkenny where funds are helping to build a new Centre of Excellence.
- SocialTies is not just a platform provider – it’s the infrastructure behind a new wave of digital communities, where content, commerce, and connection are all rooted in place.
Why we do it...
Local communities, from sports clubs and schools to special interest groups, are the backbone of society, yet they’ve been underserved by today’s digital landscape. Their tools are fragmented. Their content is scattered. Their businesses are overlooked. And the platforms they rely on? Built for scale, not substance.
- For years, grassroots organisations have relied on scattered, generic tools, from WhatsApp threads to outdated websites, just to stay connected. These setups weren’t built for them, and they’ve only made communication harder, not easier. At the same time, local businesses trying to support and grow with their communities have been forced to hand over their ad budgets to Silicon Valley, with little to show for it.
- SocialTies flips that model. It builds purpose-built platforms where members can connect, stay informed, and thrive, while giving businesses the ability to advertise in spaces where they’re truly seen and valued. And with 50% of all ad revenue reinvested into the communities themselves, the impact is local, lasting, and visible. Because digital infrastructure should strengthen the places and people it serves – not extract from them.
What we bring...
SocialTies is led by a team that understands what communities need, and how to build digital platforms that genuinely serve them.
- Walter Walsh, CEO and Co-Founder, knows exactly what community means, because he’s lived it. As a Kilkenny hurler and three-time All-Ireland champion, Walter understands the pride, identity, and deep-rooted loyalty that binds local groups together. That experience now drives his vision for SocialTies: a platform that gives communities the digital space they deserve, and gives local businesses the ability to engage with purpose. He knows that when advertising is relevant, respectful, and reinvested locally, everyone wins, and real ROI follows.