Tag: #kilkenny

Walter Walsh Launches New Digital Platform SocialTies

Today, SocialTies, a new free digital platform co-founded by three-time All-Ireland winner Walter Walsh, has officially launched. Built for community groups, such as schools, and grassroots organisations, SocialTies brings everything – from fixtures and results to ticketing, training resources, messaging, and exclusive content – into one unified, branded space. Designed around the real needs of today’s communities, the platform puts connection, identity, and community impact at its core.

Walter and his team have addressed a common frustration faced by organisations, relying on multiple disconnected tools to manage day-to-day communication and operations. Instead of navigating between group chats, outdated websites and scattered emails, SocialTies brings everything into one streamlined, purpose-built environment, finally offering a digital solution tailored to how real communities work.

“We built SocialTies because communities deserve better,” said Walter Walsh, CEO and Co-Founder of SocialTies, “For too long, they’ve been expected to make do with outdated websites, scattered group chats, and platforms that were never built for them. This isn’t about adding more noise, it’s about giving community groups, schools and grassroots organisations the digital infrastructure to connect, grow, and take ownership of their space online.”

Walter Walsh Launches New Digital Platform SocialTies – techbuzzireland

SocialTies is built on a new advertising model that delivers value to both communities and businesses. The platform is completely free to use both for individual users and the organisations themselves, with revenue generated through its Community Shared Advertising Model. Businesses gain targeted access to engaged, local audiences in a trusted environment, while 50% of all ad revenue is returned directly to the organisations and communities using the platform.

Brendan Kavanagh, Co-Founder of SocialTies, said: “Too many community platforms fail because they rely on goodwill, not good models. With SocialTies, we set out to create something that’s commercially robust and genuinely useful – it is a platform where local advertisers can reach engaged audiences in a meaningful way, while directly funding the communities they care about. It’s digital advertising that delivers real ROI.”

The first live platform built on SocialTies is Kilkenny Cats Social, created in partnership with Kilkenny GAA. As the pilot rollout, it demonstrates how the platform can be adapted to reflect the identity and structure of any organisation, in this case, one of Ireland’s most iconic sporting communities. Beyond content and communication, the partnership highlights SocialTie’s mission of community engagement at all levels – 50% of all advertising revenue generated on the app goes directly back to Kilkenny GAA, supporting grassroots development and major projects like the new Centre of Excellence.

Walsh, a former Kilkenny Senior hurler added “Kilkenny has given me so much, on and off the pitch, so launching our flagship product here means a huge amount to me. We built Kilkenny Cats Social to reflect everything this county stands for: pride, purpose, and community. I’m proud that we’re starting in Kilkenny, and even prouder that every tap, every ad, and every message on the platform gives something back to the place that shaped me.”

AI Marketing Expert set to showcase AI on a Shoestring to visitor attraction operators at upcoming AVEA Conference

The upcoming AVEA (Association of Visitor Experiences and Attractions) Conference planned for October 13th to 15th in Kilkenny will see the founder of ProfileTree and AI expert Ciaran Connelly take to the stage to showcase how to effectively use AI on a shoestring to maximise marketing efforts.

Ciaran has grown ProfileTree from a small team of 2 into a strong team of 24. Online he creates videos and training, which are delivered through YouTube and various websites. He continues to drive innovation in the digital marketing landscape through the adoption of AI tools in business practices and designs, develops and supports optimised websites and e-commerce sites for a large number of companies from the USA to Australia. At the conference, he will share his expertise in using AI to get the most for your marketing efforts and team productivity.

CEO of AVEA Catherine Flanagan says, “We are very excited to welcome Ciaran to the conference. He works at the cutting edge of AI and is up to speed on what technology is evolving daily. He will demystify AI and share insights into some of the best tools for the best results. Tourism and hospitality are all about the personal touch, and AI can be a powerful and positive behind-the-scenes tool that enables us to spend more time connecting and engaging with the visitor.”

Ciaran says, “In any business, we are always looking for ways to improve what we do. A lot of tasks are robotic and repetitive, and by effectively using AI we can remove some of these more basic tasks that we no longer need to do and allow business team members to focus on the higher-level strategic parts of the business.

The speed of AI adoption since November 2022 is phenomenal. It is clear AI is the future, no matter what happens next — it will be a bigger part of everyone’s life. One of the biggest challenges I see is getting staff onboard with using AI. We are all naturally resistant to changing how we work; for example, when you ask a team of writers to adopt ChatGPT, they initially think that they are sacrificing part of their creativity but AI is a tool for facilitating creativity and content writing, instead of staring at a blank screen or putting hours into research for an article, there is a tool that could help do all of that a lot quicker.

My delivery at the upcoming conference is to arm the visitor attraction industry with some key knowledge and tools to focus their marketing efforts and reap the most reward by doing so.”

Over 200 delegates will gather in Kilkenny at the Ormonde Hotel for the 7th annual AVEA conference. In a bid to tackle tourism visitor numbers and issues head-on and work towards providing the best experience for visitors, the industry will come together. The owners and operators of Ireland’s leading visitor attractions will gather to discuss how the industry can drive further visitor numbers and future-proof their businesses under the theme of ‘Innovation – Agility – Inclusion’.

A conference’s leadership panel discussion will include Tourism Ireland CEO Alice Mansergh, Failte Ireland’s Jenny De Saulle, Chief Executive at Irish Tourism Industry Confederation Eoghan O’ Mara Walsh, CEO at Tourism Northern Ireland John McGrillen.

In addition to the leadership panel, the international speakers include Laura Magee, CEO of Thoroughbred Country, Nik Wyness, Head of Marketing, the Tank Museum, Dorset, Alison Bowyer, Executive Director, Kids in Museums, Eleanore Hutch and Kat Riddell, Diageo Brand Homes, Sally Booth and Olivia Hewley from VocalEyes,  Michael Faley, Sector Lead for Travel, Google, Gary Farrington, Senior Partner Manager EMEA, Expedia Group, Rachel Kuhn, Senior Director, BOP Consulting and Anne O’Donoghue, CEO, Irish Heritage Trust.

A highlight of the conference is sure to be the Gala Dinner at St Canice’s Cathedral, which expects to welcome over 150 of Ireland’s tourism leaders.  St Canice’s will be showcasing the illuminated Book of Ossory, which is on display in its new home for the first time in its 700-year history.

AVEA is the collective voice of the visitor attraction and experience sector, with members ranging from the Guinness Storehouse to Fanad Lighthouse, and provides a strong voice in tourism for businesses operating as Visitor Attractions and Visitor Experiences that entertain and engage visitors in Irish heritage and culture.

For details on the upcoming AVEA conference see www.avea.ie

State Street Officially Opens its New Kilkenny Office

State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) one of the world’s leading providers of financial services to institutional investors, today marked the official opening of its new office building in Kilkenny.

State Street established its Irish operations in 1996 and has grown to become one of the largest international financial services employers in Ireland. With a presence in Kilkenny for over 20 years, State Street was the first company in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), to establish a regional base outside of Dublin. Today’s opening ceremony, hosted by the Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath, T.D. and by State Street chairman and chief executive officer Ron O’Hanley, signifies a major milestone in the firm’s ongoing commitment to the region and to Ireland.

“Our new office and global cybersecurity centre reflects State Street’s commitment to Ireland and our confidence in the South-East region’s exceptional talent pool” said Ron O ’Hanley, chairman and chief executive officer of State Street. “We are grateful to the Irish government for its support in our continuing journey to enhance our operational capabilities by leveraging Ireland’s exceptional workforce and its strength as a fund domicile and ecosystem.”

The availability of relevant and skilled technology talent from universities in the South-East region, alongside the need to support global operations outside of the US, are two of the key reasons for the firm to select Kilkenny as its regional base.

Welcoming the news, Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath said: “I want to congratulate State Street on this important milestone for their regional operations in Ireland. The Kilkenny operations are a vital element in the development of the international financial services sector in the South-East region and the cybersecurity centre is a testament to links they have developed with the third level institutions. State Street is one of the largest employers in financial services and I want to wish all the team in Kilkenny the very best and continued success as they build out their exciting new cybersecurity global business in the new offices.”

Located at IDA Ireland Business and Technology Park, the new state of the art building is also home to State Street’s recently established global cybersecurity centre of excellence, the only dedicated cybersecurity hub outside of the US, supporting the needs of its employees in over 200 geographic markets worldwide.

Terri Dempsey, country head of Ireland, added: “The establishment of this new office will amplify the work State Street has been doing in Kilkenny for over twenty years, deepening our connections to local community, businesses and institutions to nurture growth and innovation. Kilkenny’s thriving talent pool and dynamic innovation landscape make it an ideal base for our established cybersecurity fusion centre and enables us to actively promote female participation in the tech industry. Government policies and the continued support from the IDA have laid a solid foundation for State Street to grow together with the people of Kilkenny and for the prosperity of the region.”

State Street was recognised as the leading provider of fund administration services and custody services, and transfer agent in Ireland in The Monterey Insight 2023 report. Together with State Street Global Advisors, State Street’s asset management business, the firm has grown over the years to become one of the largest international financial services employers in Ireland.

In addition to its strategic importance to the firm, the modern building also reflects State Street’s strong commitment to environmental responsibility, including energy management systems, photovoltaic panels, and rainwater harvesting achieving BER A3 rating. The building has also integrated biodiversity elements and prioritised employee well-being with Fitwel certification, ample bicycle parking, walking trails, beehives, fitness hubs and diverse accessibility features to create a sustainable and employee-centric environment.

Square Root Solutions Named All-Star App Development Company 2023

Kilkenny App Development Company Square Root Solutions has been named Business All-Star App Development Company Of The Year 2023 by the All-Ireland Business Foundation. 

​​Square Root Solutions is a veteran mobile app development company, which provides comprehensive mobile app development services in Ireland for a number of domains.

Led by CEO Ciaran Stone, Square Root Solutions has become the ideal accelerator to design and develop innovative mobile applications that stand the test of time.

The company has achieved its second consecutive Business All-Star Accreditation in recognition of its outstanding contribution to quality and standards in the app development sector.

The Square Root team have also been recognised for their conduct in the areas of trust performance and customer centricity.

Business All-Star Accreditation is an independently verified standard mark for indigenous businesses, based on rigorous selection criteria. 

Reacting to the news of his company’s achievement, Square Root Solutions CEO Ciaran Stone said: On behalf of the Square Root Solutions team, I would like to express my pride in the achievement of our second Business All-Star Accreditation alongside the title of All-Star App Development Company Of The Year. Accolades like this show our team that our work has a meaningful impact and a tangible value to our brilliant clients. We are proud to be a Business All-Star Accredited company and I look forward to working alongside the AIBF as we take our next steps.

The Accreditation is overseen by the prestigious All-Ireland Business Foundation, whose adjudication panel is chaired by Dr Briga Hynes of the University of Limerick and Kieran Ring, CEO of the Global Institute of Logistics.

Announcing the news of Square Root Solutions’ achievement, Deputy Chair of AIBF’s Adjudication Board, Kieran Ring, said: Square Root Solutions Outstanding Performance During Its Audit For Business All-Star Accreditation has seen The Company recognised With Business All-Star App Development Company Of The Year 2023 Accreditation. This Accreditation Recognises Square Root Solutions’ Conduct In The Areas Of Trust, Commitment, Performance & Customer Centricity. Square Root Solutions Is Hereby Included In The Aibf Register Of Irish Business Excellence.

Elaine Carroll, CEO, All-Ireland Business Foundation released the following statement: Empowering businesses and organisations to connect with their customers and also do business online is one of the main USPs of Square Root Solutions who, through the Business All-Stars Accreditation Process, have proven themselves to be trustworthy and customer centric app builders for startups in the field of software development. Their commitment to excellence is evidenced in their best in class mobile app development services for iPhone and Android and we are delighted to accredit them as Business All-Star App Development Company Of The Year 2023.

Managing Director of the All-Ireland Business Foundation Kapil Khanna said the accreditation, which is now held by over 500 firms, is needed by the thousands of small and medium businesses which operate to their own standards but have nothing to measure them by.

He said: “We evaluate a company’s background, trustworthiness and performance, and we speak to customers, employees and vendors. We also anonymously approach the company as a customer and report back on the experience. The business goes through at least two interviews and is scored on every part of the process against set metrics.”

Bolt to launch pilot e-bike scheme in Kilkenny

Bolt, the European mobility champion, today announced it will launch its second electric bike scheme in Kilkenny ahead of the Kilkenny Arts Festival starting on August 4th.

The 80-bike pilot will kick off in the coming week and will trial new virtual parking solutions to provide both flexibility and ease of use for cyclists and ensure the scheme is mindful of pedestrians and other road users.

This service will help to deliver on the Kilkenny City and County Development Plan 2021 – 2027, which prioritises sustainable transport and continued development of walking and cycling infrastructure in support of the 10-minute city concept.

Caitriona Corr, Cycling Officer with Kilkenny County Council, said, “We are delighted that people will have another choice of transport in Kilkenny.  It has been shown that e-bike users cycle further and more often so the benefit will be not just to our city but also people’s wellbeing. e-bikes can be of great assistance to people with reduced mobility and can make more arduous journeys very enjoyable.”

Bolt has continued  to strengthen its Irish team with the recent appointment of John Buckley as Operations Manager for Rentals in Ireland, who said, “Kilkenny is our second Irish market and one where we believe e-bikes can make a transformational difference to travel options and wellbeing. We are also conscious that Kilkenny is a medieval city and as such presents new challenges from an operational perspective. The learnings we will gather from Kilkenny will give Bolt a stronger understanding of the concerns some Local Authorities may have when it comes to introducing shared e-bike schemes into the public realm where space may be limited, and will leave Bolt as an experienced operator of such.

Buckley added, “Electric bikes play an essential role in reducing the reliance on private vehicles when travelling short to medium distances. We are keen that our e-bikes provide sustainable and affordable solutions in regional towns and cities too — there is no reason that such services should only be available in the capital.”

The launch marks Bolt’s second e-bike launch after it launched in Sligo earlier this year. The Sligo pilot has proven highly successful in its first month with 14,633 kms travelled by electric bike in the town in the first month alone — the equivalent of cycling from Sligo to Australia.

Bolt is a leading European mobility champion operating a range of services including e-bikes, eScooters, ride-hailing and car clubs for over 100 million people across 200 cities. The company currently operates ride-hailing taxi services in Dublin and Cork and is seeking to bring electric bikes, and in time, electric scooters to cities and towns across Ireland. The launch in Kilkenny comes as part of a wider push for Bolt to deploy 16,000 e-bikes across Europe in 2022, following recent fundraising.

Bolt will commit up to €5m in its bid to roll out e-bike operations across Irish cities and towns. Up to 2000 bikes are available immediately following Bolt’s recent fundraise and investment in micromobility with founder Markus Villig recently committing €150m to expand its light vehicle fleet across Europe.

How to rent a Bolt e-bike

To rent a Bolt e-bike, users need the Bolt app, available on app stores, and a payment card tied to an account.

Follow these steps to start riding a Bolt e-bike:

 

  • Open the app and tap on the e-bike icon to locate your closest bike;

  • Scan the QR code on the bike to unlock it;

  • Carefully read through the safety tips;

  • When you’re ready to roll, push off and go!

Continuing Bolt’s reputation of offering affordable micromobility service across continents, Bolt is the most affordable provider of shared electric bikes in Ireland, thanks to having low rates and no unlock fee. The per-minute rental price is the lowest on the market at just 0.15 EUR/minute during the launch campaign.

About Bolt e-bikes

Bolt e-bikes have been designed with a clear focus on safety. Solid rear and front wheel drum brakes help control the speed efficiently. Puncture-proof pneumatic tyres translate into better grip and durability.

The e-bike is also equipped with a functional dashboard providing information about speed, battery level and speed zones, showing the user all the information needed to enjoy the ride. Bolt e-bikes are equipped with high-precision GPS which helps users find the bikes easily on the street.

Bolt has also launched the in-app cognitive reaction test which aims to prevent users from riding an e-bike or scooter while intoxicated. If a customer ‘fails’ the test the app encourages them to choose other means of transport e.g. taxi. The test is an added safety layer designed to protect both riders and pedestrians.

The new e-bike model introduced by Bolt has a long lifespan of up to 5 years, which makes it highly sustainable. The e-bike is also produced from 100% recyclable aluminium. Integrating a swappable battery in the e-bike’s design results in fewer operations needed for battery charging. This translates into a decreased overall carbon footprint since the e-bikes do not need to be frequently transported to a warehouse for charging. The high-capacity battery additionally offers a range of up to 90 km per charge.

The e-bike also features beginner modes permitting max speeds of up to 15 km per hour, which can be activated in the Bolt app. Geo-fencing technology enables the prevention of high speeds in designated ‘go-slow’ zones where pedestrian footfall may be high, such as the High Street and the Parade.

400 new jobs for Kilkenny as State Street selects Ireland for its new global cybersecurity and technology unit

State Street Corporation, one of the world’s leading providers of financial services to institutional investors, is to establish a new specialist 400-strong team in Ireland to provide technology infrastructure and cyber security services to support group operations globally.  State Street celebrates 25 years in Ireland and 20 years in Kilkenny this year and currently employs approximately 2,000 staff in Ireland across Dublin, Drogheda, Naas and Kilkenny.

Ireland has been selected in large part due to the availability of relevant and skilled technology talent – existing and emerging – from universities and third level institutions, as well as the need to have a location outside the US for time zone support purposes.

The new unit will be located at IDA Ireland Business and Technology Park in Kilkenny where State Street already employs approximately 600 staff and where the firm is in the process of developing a new state-of-the-art office. Reflective of new ways of working post COVID and of staff preferences for flexibility and remote working, the new office will accommodate above average occupancy levels enabling it to draw on a broad staff pool along the east coast and midlands.

The new unit will employ up to 400 high value, experienced and graduate level roles, across: programming, Cybersecurity Operations Analysts, Cybersecurity Instrumentation Engineers, Data Scientists, Cybersecurity Architects (Network, Identify Access Management and BlockChain), Cybersecurity Forensics/Investigations, Pen Testers and Governance as well as Risk and Compliance experts.  The new roles will be filled on a phased basis over the next 2 years.

Commenting, Tadhg Young, State Street’s head of Ireland, said:

“We are very pleased that Ireland and Kilkenny will benefit from this very substantial investment and the addition of high value, sustainable jobs. Today’s jobs announcement, alongside plans for our new state-of-the-art office development in Kilkenny, marks a further strengthening of our presence and commitment to the region for years to come.

 “Ireland’s tech ecosystem and financial services credentials alongside Kilkenny’s central location and access to talent from third level institutions in Dublin, Carlow, Waterford and beyond were all compelling factors in our location decision. I wish to thank the IDA for their continuing support of State Street, and I strongly encourage anyone seeking a new career opportunity in a great location and with great prospects for professional development to check out our new roles.”

 Welcoming the news, Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment said: “This is a fantastic boost for Kilkenny. State Street, which already employs 600 in its Loughboy office and approximately 2,000 across the country has chosen to locate a new cybersecurity and technology unit in the county, creating up to 400 new jobs over the next 2 years.  Ireland’s highly skilled and experienced workforce continues to attract the very best investment across the country. This announcement is further evidence of the phenomenal work the IDA is doing to attract and retain FDI in Ireland – the new unit will be based in the IDA’s Kilkenny Business Park. I wish all involved every success.”

Minister of State with special responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance Seán Fleming said: “I am delighted to welcome this transformational investment from State Street and would like to thank all of the executives involved in Kilkenny, the wider Irish operations and their colleagues in the US. The investment is an endorsement and a commitment to Ireland and the State Street team in Kilkenny. It demonstrates the vital role that regional operations can play in creating value for global firms.  Both I and the team behind the Ireland for Finance Strategy wish State Street every success as they build out the team in the region.”

Martin Shanahan, CEO, IDA Ireland said: “This significant announcement by State Street demonstrates not only the company’s continued commitment to Ireland but also the attractiveness of the South East Region’s value proposition. The new cybersecurity and tech roles announced for State Street’s new facility in Kilkenny will help shape the future of our economy and will support the company’s global operations.  I wish State Street every success with this expansion.”

In Ireland, State Street is the largest provider of fund administration and custody services with $1.7tn in assets serviced across all asset classes. The Irish group also manages $317bn within its investment management division SSGA.

Today’s announcement coincides with the first anniversary of State Street’s support for the Rethink Ireland €1.5 million Ability to Work Fund which, in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection & the Department of Rural and Community Development, is helping develop the talents and skills of those living with a disability.