Down To Business

Joining Bobby this week in the executive chair is Padraic Frawley, owner of the Cornstore Restaurants in Cork & Limerick, Coqbull Restaurants in Cork City, Limerick City & Castletroy, Co. Limerick, as well as 65a Restaurant in Spitalfields, London.

Next week’s show will be coming to you from Cape Town in South Africa as part of our annual trip for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year CEO Retreat. Bobby is joined by Roger Wallace, Partner Leader for the Programme, to look ahead to what promises to be an exciting and rewarding week.

The cruise industry is estimated to be worth €70 million to the Irish economy every year as the sector continues to bounce back strongly from the challenges of the last 4 years.So, for this week’s Industry Review, Bobby got a sense of how the cruise industry has changed over the years and found out just[...]

Temu is now the temple for cheap and cheerful products you probably don’t need but buy anyway, but the downsides are that European regulators claim that it uses manipulative sales techniques illegal under EU law and fails to protect European consumers. Bobby is joined by Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent for the Irish Times to[...]

Bobby is joined by Portia Quinn of Harley and Marley, an Irish-owner pet food company that specialises in fish-based pet nutrition.

Joining Bobby to run through the top business stories from the Saturday papers is broadcaster, Valerie Cox and Ronan Reid, Director of Cantor Fitzgerlad Services. Ltd.

Joining Bobby this week in the executive chair was Chris Mee of EHS International

The inaugural Ballymaloe Festival of Food will be running at Ballymaloe from Friday, May 17th to Sunday, May 19th this year to celebrate 60 years of Ballymaloe House.The three-day event will have cooking demos, pop-up dinners, producers’ stalls and activities celebrating the journey of good food from the soil and sea to your plate.Bobby's guest[...]

Joining Bobby to run through the top business stories from the Saturday papers is Bob Hoffman of Vista Executive Search and Susan Hayes-Culleton of Hayes Culleton

With several significant changes at the legendary Berkshire Hathaway we ask what the future holds for the company. To do so Bobby was joined by Stephen Cloonan, Non-Executive Chairman of Shaws Department Stores

Now, AI has been affecting how we work for some time now be it through helping to evaluate job applications, streamlining workflows or for assessing pay and performances.But in the past year, generative AI has supercharged that potential and for better or for worse, it is here to stay.But how can AI be utilised to[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair today was Kenny Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer at DAA

For this week's out and about Bobby paid a visit to Ask the Midwife in Dun Laoghaire.

Now, according to the most recent figures, between 2017 and 2022 there has been an increase in market share of the 79 independent microbreweries that are currently in operation in the Republic of Ireland, with the consumption of craft beer rising from 2.9% to 3.4%. But with a hugely competitive market out there and the[...]

We’ve all heard of blind spots but a new book is introducing us to our so-called “deaf spots” as more and more people ignore the chatter on pressing issues. ‘Tune In: How to Make Smarter Decisions in a Noisy World’ equips fed-up readers with the tools to tackle our own biases in an information-heavy society.[...]

KALO, created by Kate O’Neill and Michael O’Malley, is an innovative accessories brand which produces luxury handbags and hairbands made using apple “leather”. Their venture saw them being announced as the winner of Brown Thomas Arnotts Pitch ’23 initiative, which is designed to support small Irish businesses. Bobby was joined by Kate and Michael this[...]

Joining Bobby to run through the top business stories from the Saturday papers is Caroline Bocoquel of Bord Iascha Mara and Stephen O’Leary, founder of Olytico

As a nation, we love to complain about the weather but for the farming industry, this year’s disastrous weather has brought it to the brink. To understand the gravity of the situation, Bobby is joined by Eoin Lowry, Head of Agri at Bank of Ireland & Bobby Miller, a tillage farmer and head of the[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is David Nolan and Kevin Glynn, founders of Butternut Box.

This year’s finalists in the EY Entrepreneur have just been announced and it’s a bumper group. As we do every year on the show, we’ll be following the finalists on their journey which next month will see Bobby and the team bring you the show from Cape Town in South Africa. To discuss, Bobby is[...]

The 'Moving to Portugal Show' took place this month which provided free access to a range of experts on the tax, investment, legal, financial, and practical aspects of moving from Ireland to Portugal. Bobby was on hand to find out all about it and what Portugal has to offer.

We’re a nation famed for our theatre scene with an abundance of world-renowned authors, playwrights, and actors to call our own.But it’s a competitive space out there and with rising costs and entertainment increasingly available at our fingertips, how are our theatres faring in 2024?Joining Bobby to discuss is:Donal Shiels, Artistic Director and CEO of[...]

Joining Bobby to run through the top business stories from the Saturday papers is Caroline Reidy of the HR Suite and Jon Ihle, Deputy Business Editor with the Sunday Times Ireland.

Bobby is joined by Pádraic Ó’Máille, Ireland's number one speaker and mentor to talk about the discipline of success, and more.

To play Bobby out with some music following a brilliant visit to Ballinasloe as part of the 'Open for Business Roadshow' is local man and old friend of the show, Ultan Conlon.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Pat McDonagh, founder of Supermac's.

Broadcasting from Ballinasloe for the 'Open for Business Roadshow', Bobby chats to some local businesses in the town to get a sense of how they are faring.Bobby is joined bySeamus Duffy, Chairman of Ballinasloe Area Community Development Arlene Naughton of Athlone HampersJoe Ward of Joe Ward's Menswear Tyrone Stockil, Manager of Wag and Tails PetShop Tommie Costello of[...]

Bobby is joined by Dave O’Connell, Group Editor of the Connacht Tribune & Joan Mulvihill, Digitisation Lead at Siemens to look at the business stories making the morning papers.

Bobby and the team are broadcasting out of Ballinasloe in the Shearwater Hotel & Spa as part of the 'Open for Business Roadshow'. Bobby and the health check team give Ballinasloe the once over to see what works and what could be improved with Retail Consultant, Eddie Shanahan & Planning Expert, Conor Skehan.

Tim Grover, CEO of Attack Athletics has had the unique privilege of calling the likes of sporting superstars such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant as his former clients. He is a towering authority on the science of physical & mental strength - he joins Bobby to discuss.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Peter Jelkeby, Country CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer with IKEA Ireland and UK.

According to recent figures, Ireland is among the countries with the highest internet use in the world, amounting to over six hours every day per person.If you couple that with the fact that the rate of shortsightedness is estimated to rise by 50% by 2050, our eye health has never been more important.With this in[...]

Joining Bobby to discuss the decreasing number of EV car sales in Ireland is Philip Nolan, motoring correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail.

Are you a board member of a company and thought about how psychology impacts your decision-making? Social and organizational psychologist, Dr. Wieke Scholten, believes we don't pay enough attention to this aspect of our professional lives - she joins Bobby to discuss.

Bobby is joined by broadcaster, Norah Casey & Ciarán Hancock, Business Editor with the Irish Time to look at the business stories from the morning papers.

Sitting in the Executive Chair this week is Kim Swan, Managing Director of Aircoach.

For this week’s Industry Review, get your green thumb ready, we’re looking at garden centres in Ireland. Bobby is joined by Rachel Doyle, Founder of the Arboretum, Oliver Schurmann, Co-Owner of Mount Venus Nursery and Tig Mays, Co-Owner of Howbert & Mays.

Bobby is joined by Steve Hearsum, author of No Silver Bullet: Bursting the Bubble of the Organisational Quick Fix to discuss the difficulties you can have in business management.

With the advent of hybrid working, it’s important to look at the commercial property sector to see if it is still worth investing in. Bobby is joined by Colm Lauder, real estate capital markets advisor, Principal at Lingard Capital Advisers and columnist with the Business Post to discuss.

For this week’s Out & About, Bobby is down for the Cáis Irish Cheese Awards talking to both Siobhán Ni Ghairbith, Treasurer of Cáis and owner of St Tola Goat Cheese and judge and cheese writer Patrick McGuigan.

Bobby is joined by Louisa Meehan of Woodview HRM and Stephen O’Leary, founder of Olytico to look at the business stories that are making the morning papers.

Sitting in the Executive Chair to talk to Bobby this week is Frank Walsh, Founder of 123ink.ie and 123ink.se.

Bobby talks to Fiona Harold, life coach, business mentor and author of multiple books such as ‘Be Your Own Life Coach’ about her life and career.

For this week’s Industry Review, get your sweet tooth ready, because we’re looking at the world of chocolate around Easter. Bobby is joined by Karen and Natalie Keane, sisters and founders of Bean and Goose, Gráinne Mullins, founder of Grá Chocolates and Mary Healy, Director & Co-Owner of The Chocolate Garden.

This guest has written an article that compares running an SME in the countryside to being a contestant on Squid Game, where they struggle to survive. Are things really that dire for businesses in rural Ireland? And what can be done to help? Stuart Fitzgerald, CEO of Fitzgerald Power and Strategy Columnist for The Currency,[...]

This week, Bobby visits Naoise Barry and his company, Seaweed and Saltwater: a camper rental and camper sales business. He checks out a converted camper Tesla!

Bobby is joined by Rebecca Harrison, MD of Fishers of Newmounttownkennedy and Declan Ralph, Retail Development Director of BWG Foods to look at the business stories that are making the morning papers.

Bobby is joined by Marine Tanguy to discuss her new book ‘The Visual Detox: How to Consume Media Without Letting it Consume You’'. Together they discuss how the imagery we see every day shapes our wellbeing and how to combat information overload.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Billy Hann, CEO of Dublin Bus.

For this week’s industry review, Bobby speaks to three people in the honey business to find out what it’s like for beekeepers up and down the country.They are: Emma Finn of ‘Bees on the Roof’; Eoghan Mac Giolla Coda of ‘Lannleire Honey’; and Pat McCormack of ‘Farmhouse Bees and Trees’.

The UK is talking about banning Zero-hours contracts but is this bad economics? Bobby is joined UK Economics Editor, David Smith to discuss.

We are a nation of tea & coffee drinkers and usually, that means the hot kind. But cold brew coffee is also incredibly popular elsewhere in the world, so why not here in Ireland? Dee Schronder & her husband Jeff are the founders of Goodbrew, a company that specialises in cold brew coffee - they[...]

A recent survey commissioned by Peopl Insurance, showed considerable interest in the idea of pay-as-you-go car insurance cover - but is this the right way to go for insurance and how would it work in reality? Geraldine Herbert Motoring Editor with the Sunday Independent joins Bobby to discuss.

Cameron Herold is a business consultant, top-selling author, and speaker who is going to be in Dublin for the Wealth Summit on May 15th - he took some time to chat with Bobby about his writing, his business career, and some of the lessons he learned along the way.

Sitting in the Executive Chair this week is Catherine Toolan, the Managing Director of Diageo Irish Brand Homes.

Bobby is joined by Sophie Williams, author of ‘The Glass Cliff’ to discuss the phenomenon and the leadership roles women have in business.

This week’s industry review is taking a look at DJ’ing in Ireland. Bobby is joined by 3 DJ’s, Mark McCabe, Aoife Nic Canna and Robbie Kitt.

A survey this week is suggesting that 59% of those surveyed indicated that they were willing to forego pay rises for flexibility. To discuss this, Bobby is joined by Chris Kane, author of ‘Where’s my Office?’ and Rossa Mullaly of Sigmar Recruitment.

This week Bobby is talking to the Co-Founding Director of the Winding Stair, Elaine Murphy in the bookshop / restaurant in the heart of Dublin city.

Bobby is joined by Rebecca Harrison, the managing director of Fishers of Newtownmountkennedy and Doug Keatinge, Head of Communications at Avolon to look at the business stories that are making the morning papers.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Richard Kennedy, CEO of Carbon AMS.With thanks to Eversheds Sutherland – Ireland’s largest and most established global law firm.

No Crows are a dynamic world music orchestra from Sligo's diverse music scene, formed in 2005 via a casual session in Sligo’s famous ‘Shoot the Crows’. Eddie Lee & Steve Wickham joined Bobby to chat and to play us out of what was a fantastic first edition to the new roadshow series ‘Open for Business’.

Bobby is joined by TD Dara Calleary, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation to discuss the Family and Care referendums, the general health of business in Enniscone, and more.

On the face of it, a seaweed bath is nothing more than a tub filled with hot seawater and seaweed, but to leave its description at that would be to do it a grave disservice as thousands of people consider it to be the ultimate bathing experience. Bobby went out & about to Kilcullen’s Seaweed[...]

Easkey Britton began surfing at the age of four up in Rossnowlagh in Donegal, now holds a PhD and is passionate about women’s rights. Her new book ‘Ebb & Flow: Connect with the Patterns and Power of Water’ discusses how water has the power to heal, inspire, and offer meaning to us. She joins Bobby[...]

Bobby chats to some people living and working in the Enniscrone area to get a sense of how they and their businesses are faring.They are:Beatrice Timlin, Facility Convenor of Enniscrone Golf ClubJohn Shiel, Chair of Enniscrone Golf ClubMaeve McCormack, co-ordinator of Sligo Women in Business Network Niall McAllister, co-founder of Quick Crop Louise McDonnell, founder of SellOnSocial.Media[...]

David McGowan burst into our national consciousness with his plans to turn a jumbo jet into a glamping attraction back in 2016. Since then, we have seen him talking about his ‘day job’ in an RTÉ documentary on his funeral business - he joins Bobby for a catch-up.

Broadcasting out of Enniscrone Golf Club as a part of our new roadshow series ‘Open for Business’, Bobby is joined by Dr. Edel McSharry, Head of the School of Nursing, Health Sciences and Disability Studies at ATU St Angelas & Paul Deering, executive editor of the Sligo Champion to look at the business stories that[...]

One of the aspects of the ‘Open for Business’ roadshow is that Bobby will be looking at the life and relative well-being of a town by examining the way the town functions from a business, planning, and retail perspective. Planning expert, Conor Skehan & Retail Consultant Eddie Shanahan join Bobby to take a look at[...]

The Down to Business crew will be in Enniscrone in Sligo next Saturday, March 9th for their new roadshow ‘Open for Business’. As part of each of these shows a dedicated 'Town Health Check' team will accompany Bobby to assess what’s working and what isn’t. Conor Skehan, planning expert & retail consultant, Eddie Shanahan join[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Jeffrey Long, MD of Java Republic.

With rising costs, supply chain delays, a spiders-web of red tape, and the ever-growing push to move to green energy, the haulage and freight industry has a lot to deal with at the moment.So for this week’s Industry Review, Bobby wanted to gauge just how the sector is juggling all of this.Joining Bobby is:James Quinn[...]

'Real to Reel: Garech Browne & Claddagh Records' by James Morrissey is a new large-format hardback book together with a vinyl box set that celebrates the life of Guinness heir Garech Browne and his quest to preserve Ireland’s musical and spoken-word heritage with Claddagh Records. James joins Bobby to discuss.

'The Smooth Company' was founded by Aine Kennedy after she spent eight years working in the beauty industry. Bobby took a trip out to Grafton Street to chat with her and her grandfather, Billy Kennedy about the success of the 'Smooth Stick', a specially formulated premium hair styling finishing wand designed to help keep all[...]

Bobby is joined by Caroline Reidy of the HR Suite & Lorcan Allen, Business Editor for the Business Post to look at the business stories that are making the morning papers.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Peter Lantry, the Managing Director of Equinix - Ireland’s largest supplier of data centres.

With rapidly advancing technology - the conversation rarely lands on industries that largely rely on working with your hands? Bobby talks to Kyran O’Grady of Wicklow Thatching Services, Isaac Jackman, Owner of ‘Isaac Jackman Shoe Repairs’ and Colm Bagnall, co-owner of Bushy Park Ironworks to discuss how they’re faring.

Bobby goes to the Hospitality Expo in the RDS and talks to Neven Maguire as well as other hospitality people about the state of the sector today.

Bobby talks to economist Dan O’Brien about how Irish people are some of the most indebted in the world.

How worried should we be about AI in relation to the job market? Bobby is joined by author of ‘AI Unleashed’ Mark Kelly and Commercial Director at Sigmar Recruitment Rossa Mullaly to discuss the role AI might play in the future.

Bobby is joined by Susan Hayes Culleton of Hayes Culleton and Former Director General of the Law Society Ken Murphy to look at the business stories that are making the morning papers.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Brian Donaldson, Chief Executive Officer of The Maxol Group.

Bridging the gap between the expectations of fresh-faced graduate employees and prospective employers can be a challenge, and failing to do so can lead to strife for all involved.So, how can we better prepare for, and indeed succeed in, our first job? Colman Collins, author of ‘How To Succeed In Your First Job’ joins Bobby[...]

It is one of the most special days of your life and whether it’s a big one or a small one, a traditional one or one that you’ve imagined just for yourself - you want your wedding day to be just the way you imagined it.But how do you go about achieving that? To discuss,[...]

Bobby is joined by Rory Gillen of Gillen Markets & Gary Carvill from the Digital Wealth Group to debate the pros and cons of cryptocurrencies.

Bobby was out and about at OffBeat Donuts in Dundrum Town Centre to hear all about the runaway success of one of the country's purveyors of premium donuts.

It was reported earlier this month that Irish Vodka brand Istil 38 - which launched back in 2022 - has attracted an investment worth around €390,000 as it looks to build upon the success they have seen in the last two years.Shane Davey, Managing Director of the Sugarloaf Beverage Company joins Bobby to discuss.

Joining Bobby to go through the main business stories from the Saturday papers are Linda Daly Business Reporter with the Sunday Times & Stephen O’Leary the founder of Olytico.

In recent months we saw news that there is a serious shortage of qualified vets facing the Irish veterinary industry, with some practices advertising for more than a year to fill positions.Couple this with rising costs and ever-increasing demands on our vets for small and large animals, where exactly is the sector right now?Joining Bobby[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Ciaran McCormack of Select Technology Group.

Bobby speaks to Alison Taylor, author of 'Higher Ground: How Business Can Do the Right Thing in a Turbulent World'.

The Laya Healthcare Workplace Wellbeing Index 2024 is the result of one of Ireland's most extensive workplace wellbeing studies and offers invaluable insights into the evolving HR landscape, allowing employers and employees to stay up to date on the latest trends.Bobby chats to Sinead Proos, Head of Health & Wellbeing at Laya Healthcare to explore[...]

With Valentine’s Day coming up Bobby takes a look at the actual rules around romance in the workplace with Damien McCarthy, Managing Director of HR Buddy.

Joining Bobby to run through the top stories from the business pages this morning are Louisa Meehan of Woodview HRM & Bob Hoffman of Vista Executive Search.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Joe Gilmore, Managing Director of Ireland West Airport, Knock

Castlebar has been found to have the best work-life balance according to a new index. One man who has been singing the praises of this area for a long time has been local TD Michael Ring who joins Bobby to discuss this and everything that Mayo has to offer.

Broadcasting out of the Connected Hub in the Atlantic Technological University iHub in Castlebar, Bobby speaks to some of those people using iHub to find out about the benefits this kind of working environment offers to people.Joining Bobby is:Louise McDonnell, founder of SellOnSocial.Media AgencyBrian Barrett of Solar WestDr. Noreen CurtisStephen Carolan, National Hubs Network Programme[...]

This week Bobby was broadcasting out of the Connected Hub in the Atlantic Technological University Ihub in Castlebar with thanks to Mayo County Council. One of those people who use the connected hubs in Mayo is Sarah Butler, cookbook author, and recipe writer who joins Bobby to chat about her pathway into the culinary world.

Bobby was out & about at the Connacht Distillery in Ballina this week to discuss the vision behind the business which seeks to marry modern techniques to an old tradition of craft distilling.

Joining Bobby to take a look at the business stories that are making the morning papers are two Castlebar locals in the form of Teresa O’Malley, Head of News at Midwest Radio & Tom Kelly, Editor of the Connaught Telegraph.

Last year Mayo was very much on the map when US President, Joe Biden went west and spent a remarkable evening in Ballina. One of the people instrumental in organising that visit was the then-mayor of Ballina Councillor Mark Duffy - he joins Bobby to discuss.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Christophe Mathieu, CEO of Brittany Ferries.

Bobby is joined by Debra & Ken Corey, to talk about their book 'Bad Bosses Ruin Lives: The Building Blocks for Being a Great Boss'.

With the privilege of owning your own home comes the added dilemma of sticking or twisting with the current structure and layout - but where do you begin, who do you call, and what are the costs involved for home renovation projects? For this week’s industry Review Bobby sought to find out as he was[...]

From Next Thursday 1st Feb, when you buy a drink in a plastic bottle, aluminium, or steel can that features the 'Re-Turn' logo, you will pay a small deposit in addition to the price of the drink. When you return your empty, undamaged drinks container to any participating retail outlet, you get your deposit back[...]

As the country continues down the path towards net zero, more and more electric charging points will be central to achieving that goal. Bobby is joined by John O’Keeffe, CEO of ePower to discuss the path forward to achieving a carbon-neutral future.

Joining Bobby to run through the main stories from the business pages in this morning's papers is journalist and author, Valerie Cox & Ciaran Hancock, Business Editor of the Irish Times.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Gary Lavin, founder & chairman of VITHIT.

Marga Hoek, author of ‘Tech For Good: Imagine Solving the World’s Greatest Challenges’ joins Bobby to chat about her book and the possibilities advanced technologies offer businesses to drive sustainable growth.

2023 was by all accounts a solid year for the motor and car dealership trade here in Ireland but how is 2024 shaping up and will we see many more EVs on our roads?Joining Bobby to discuss is:Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General (Society of the Irish Motor Industry) Rowena Dooley, Dealer Principle at Dooley Motors Carlow Philip[...]

Bobby chats to Regina Mangan about her new book ‘How to Build a Smarter, Faster, Better Estate Agency’

Bobby is joined by Fiona Smith, author of ‘Zero to Rich: Secrets to Becoming a Millionaire by 30'.

Bobby speaks to Charlie Engle, a former drug addict but now keynote speaker, adventurer, and multiple record holder.

Bobby is joined by Roger Wallace of EY to discuss the details of this year's EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards which opened this week.

It’s cold out there and with many more months of rain and cloud to come, what better time to start planning that summer getaway than right now?The travel agency business has seen its fair share of ups and downs over the last few years, so how have they been faring now that the cost-of-living crisis[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Patrick Murphy, CEO of Codex.

Earlier in the week Bobby got to meet Dr. John Grey, author of 'Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus’, who was speaking at this year's Pendulum Summit.Together they discuss the impact of the book, how things have changed since its publication, and the biological underpinnings of some of his opinions.

You may have heard earlier in the week that the decision has been made to close a Dublin alley due to anti-social behaviour and drug use. Naturally, this has concerned many and people are asking if this is the best way to protect a city. Sunday Independent columnist, Conor Skehan has some views on fixing[...]

This week saw the 30th Anniversary of CityJet in business. Despite some ups and downs over the years, it has persevered and evolved to a point where it is now a leading provider of jets to European airlines. Bobby is joined by Pat Byrne its founder and chairman.

Joining Bobby to take a look at the business stories featured in the Saturday papers are Caroline Reidy of the HR Suite and Doug Keatinge, Head of Communications at Avalon.

Bobby goes for a jog with Padraic George, Founder and Managing Director of Bodylite Gear, a leading Irish sportswear brand that specialises in visibility products and active gear for runners, walkers, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Ciaran Crean, co-founder & CEO of MicksGarage & WaveOMS.

We’re almost a week into the New Year and with that comes hordes of people heading out to shed some of that Christmas weight. Where are they going? Probably the gym. Joining Bobby to discuss the business of gyms in the country are Ger Conroy, Director of Ger Conroy Fitness; Garrett Ivers, Owner of UN1T[...]

Broadcaster and author, Matt Cooper joins Bobby to discuss his new book 'Who Really Owns Ireland?: How we became tenants in our own land and what we can do about it'.

After several months of price increases in our supermarkets, a shift appears to be taking place as Lidl has followed Aldi in slashing its prices. But what does that mean for food producers? Sinead Ryan, presenter of The Home Show on Newstalk joins Bobby to discuss.

Joining Bobby to go through the main business and news stories from the morning papers is businesswoman and boadcaster, Norah Casey and Ian Curran, Business Report with the Irish Times.

Joining Bobby to give his predictions on how the Irish economy will fare in 2024 is economist, Cormac Lucey.

When life gets us down, we sometimes need a person who can motivate us and give us the confidence to succeed in life and in business.It is the role of the Life Coach to do just that.To tell Bobby about this world he is joined by Shane Cradock, an advisor to high-performing leaders and the[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is David McRedmond the CEO of An Post.

Bobby is joined by Paul Boross the Pitch Doctor.

Bobby is joined in studio by three business women - Lorraine Keane, Anna Daly and Aimee Connolly, to chat fashion and Christmas.

Bobby is joined in studio by Mark Kelly founder of AI Ireland and the author of AI Unleashed, to chat about how Santa now use's AI to aid in his deliveries.

This week Bobby is taking a stroll through Grafton Street, Ireland’s Premier Shopping Street, to see how retail is faring this Christmas.

Bobby is joined by Journalist and Author Valerie Cox and Stephen O’Leary the Founder of Olytico to discuss the biggest business stories around this weekend.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Kealan Lennon, CEO and Founder of CleverCards.

Tech Guru, Andy O’Donoghue joins Bobby for his usual tech and gadget Christmas gift guide.

Getting that perfect gift can often be a challenge, especially for loved ones who live far away. But a Christmas hamper might be the right choice for those of us still struggling for inspiration, with numerous options and styles to choose from.Joining Bobby for this week's Industry Review to chat about the business of hampers[...]

Finding a GP appointment these days can be difficult but Gewardz is one business that aims to change that. Gewardz is a subscription service that provides online GP and counseling sessions for a flat monthly fee - its Head of Business Development, Iain Cahill, joins Bobby to tell him about this business model.

In this turbulent Irish economy, we have to think of the role industry plays, and manufacturing in particular is something that should be looked at in terms of its importance. Conor Magee, Head of Manufacturing at Bank of Ireland joins Bobby to discuss.

Bobby is joined by Susan HayesCulleton aka ‘The Positive Economist’ & Jon Ihle, Deputy Business Editor at the Sunday Times Ireland to discuss the biggest business stories around this weekend.

This week’s industry review gets in the festive spirit with some food producers who could take your Christmas Dinner to the next level. Bobby is joined by Emmet Harten from Kaylas Kitchen, Lynn Downey from Cookie Dó, Sofie Rooney from Chimac and James Burke, Network Manager of the Dublin Food Chain.

In the Executive Chair this week is Geoff Moore, Managing Partner at Arthur Cox

Bobby has Matt Phelan in the studio to talk about his book 'The Happiness Index Why Today's Employee Emotions Equal Tomorrow's Business Success' and what it can do for a business.

This week Bobby is in Arnotts in Dublin City Centre for the Pitch 23’ competition: an open invitation to Irish start-ups which supports and champions new and promising local Irish brands. He talks to Joanne Hyde from Eversheds Sutherland to discuss their involvement in the initiative.

Bobby is joined by Lousia Meehan, owner of Woodview HR and Conor Faughnan, CEO of Royal Irish Automobile Club (RIAC) to discuss the biggest business stories around this weekend.

Bobby takes a dive into the world of antique books. These pages of the past hold historical significance, craftsmanship, and investment value. Who knows, maybe there’s one up in your attic? He’s joined by David Cunningham, co-owner of Ulysses Rare Books, Eamonn De Búrca, owner of De Búrca Rare Books and Alan Gregroy, owner of[...]

Sitting in the Executive Chair with Bobby this week is Gerard Teahon, the CEO of Uniquely.

Bobby talks to Jack Daly, leading sales speaker and trainer, to talk all things sales in business.

Bobby takes a visit to the Cogs the Brain Shop pop-up by Stephen's Green and talks to co-owner Conor Brady.

Today it was confirmed that the Irish economy is officially in a recession. To discuss what these means, as well as recent inflation news, Bobby is joined by Cliff Taylor, columnist at The Irish Times.

Bobby is joined by Joan Mulvihill, The Digitisation Lead with Siemens and Declan Ralph, the Retail Development Director with BWG Foods to discuss the biggest business stories in the papers today.

What makes a good team and how can it add value in a workplace? James Scouller, author of a three-book series on team building: How to Build Winning Teams Again and Again, joins the studio to examine the benefits.

Sitting in the Executive Chair this week is Aisling Ryan, the CEO of Ryans Cleaning.

This week’s Industry Review covers the Irish toy makers who compete with the fancy tech and new-age offerings around. Chloe Gardiner, founder of The Wonky Woolins, Michael White, Founder Ro Óg and Geraldine O Connor, Co-Owner and Founder of Lisheen Toys join to discuss the business of hand-made toys in the country.

The end of Stephen Kenny’s tenure as manager caps off a team’s bad string of results - and worries mount as the FAI struggle to find commercial partners for the next three years. Ian Mallon, columnist with the Pitch for the Irish Examiner joins to discuss this potential financial fallout.

Emmet Oliver (filling in for Bobby) is joined by Paul Allen of Paul Allen & Associates and Caroline Bocquel, CEO of Bord Iascaigh Mhara to discuss the business stories relevant today. Plus, Jean McCabe, CEO of Retail Excellence Ireland talks about the impact of the Dublin riots on retail business.

Bobby speaks with some of the winners of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards at the show from last Thursday.Sam Moffett of Moffett Automated Storage.Ciaran Marron of Activ8 Solar Energies.Tom Walsh of Staycity.

This week’s Industry Review is something familiar in the world of audio. Bobby is joined by Síle Seoige, host of ‘Ready to be Real’ in Galway and Chris Johns, co-host of ‘The Other Hand’ all to discuss the business of podcasting in Ireland.

Web Summit took place this week following a turbulent few weeks for the annual technology conference. Andy O’Donoghue joins Bobby to tell him all about it.

Pat Rigney, the founder of The Shed Distillery and Gunpowder Gin, joins the show to give his insight on what Irish businesses can learn from the Asian markets after a trip to China.

Bobby joins bestselling author Damien Hughes in Belfast to talk about high performance sport and business.

Ahead of next week’s ceremony for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2023, Bobby chats with some of this year’s finalists about the idea of “pioneering”, doing something new, and everything associated with being on the cutting edge.Chris Kelly of EasyGoLouella Morton, the co-founder of TestReachNeil Skeffington of Novelplast Teoranta

Bobby talks to Kevin Elliott, the Executive Vice President and Head of Global Foreign Direct Investment at Bank of Ireland, to learn all about how the team there supports new international companies to establish banking and operations in Ireland.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Paul Kilcullen, CEO of BNY Mellon Fund Services Ireland.

Bobby is joined by Linda Daly, Business Reporter with the Sunday Times and Bob Hoffman of Vista Executive Search to discuss the business stories making the rounds today.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Melíosa O'Caoimh, 'Northern Trust' Country Head, Ireland.

Continuing our series of interviews with some of this year’s finalists in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards which reveals this year’s winners on November 23rd, we look at the issue of AI and its intersection with businesses.To discuss, Bobby is joined by Charles Cosgrave of Village Vets who is a finalist in the[...]

For many, glass is nothing more than the thing in your windows, but for an entire industry in Ireland, it is so much more. Art pieces made from glass are all over our cities, towns, and homes and so, Bobby wanted to understand that industry from some of the preeminent names in it.To do that,[...]

Bobby is joined by Caroline Murphy of the HR Suite and Ken Murphy, the Former Director General of the Law Society, to discuss the business stories circling today.

Shane Cradock has almost three decades of executive coaching experience and has decided to pass some of that knowledge onto us here at Down to Business. His new book 'The Inner CEO' advocates for a new way of managing your mind to lift your mood, and self-belief and achieve your full potential. Shane joins Bobby[...]

Bobby does something quite different today and visits a comic shop in the heart of Dublin city to find out more about the world of superheroes and villains. Is it just a niche? Or bigger than we think?

Meet Conor Kelly, the innovative Irish entrepreneur who's turning heads in the world of artificial intelligence. Nominated for the 'Young AI Role Model Award' at the AI Ireland Awards, Conor is gearing up to launch 'Taxbot' – an AI designed to navigate the complex waters of Irish tax law. With capabilities that allegedly outshine 90%[...]

Sitting in the Executive Chair this week is Brid O’Connell, the CEO of Guaranteed Irish.

Taking a look at the business stories that are making the morning papers are Journalist and Author Valerie Cox and Douglas Keatinge- the Head of Communications with Avolon. Mandy Johnston fills in for Bobby this week.

Ireland, with its rich tapestry of creativity, boasts over 30 art galleries that curate an impressive array of artistic expression from both local and international artists. Despite the complexities of funding, fierce competition, and intricate red tape, these cultural havens have not just survived but thrived, as evidenced by the nearly 800,000 visitors to the[...]

In the evolving landscape of corporate responsibility, the push for sustainable business practices has led to a notable trend: B Corp certification. Pioneered by the non-profit B Labs, this accreditation requires companies to meet rigorous standards in social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.Joining Mandy Johnston are two trailblazers who have taken their companies through[...]

Despite high aspirations to delight customers, many companies falter at the execution stage, leaving a gap between grand plans and customer realities. Steven has spent over a decade conversing with CX professionals and has a wealth of insights on why companies struggle to shine in customer service. His new management book serves as a guide[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is AJ Noonan, MD of Rhonellen Developments.

Down to Business has a long been association with the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards and for the next few weeks, as we get ready for the announcement of this year’s winners on Nov 23rd, Bobby will be talking to some of this year’s finalists and alumni about some of the issues facing entrepreneurs[...]

For this week's Industry Review, Bobby is joined by three farmers: Joe Healy, former IFA President and dairy farmer at Milestone Farm in Athenry, James O'Reilly, a tillage farmer from Ballyragget in Kilkenny, and Bobby Miller, Current chairman of Irish Grain Growers Group from Stradbally.

AI is undoubtedly the story of 2023, dominating headlines and rapidly making its mark on industry with Generative AI believed to become a $1.3 Trillion Market by 2032 according to Bloomberg. Despite this meteoric success, many are still scratching their heads when it comes to AI, in fact when surveyed between 60 to 70 percent[...]

Bobby took a trip out to the Gravediggers pub in Glasnevin, Dublin to find out why this is a must-see for any tourist or anyone else who calls Dublin their home.

While there is over demand for housing in the country, the market for office space is hurtling towards its lowest ebb in many years. The latest survey by BNP Paribas Real Estate has seen take-up levels fall by 63% in the past year alone. John McCartney the director of research at BNP Paribas Real Estate[...]

Joining Bobby to discuss the biggest business stories in the papers today is Susan Hayes Culleton aka 'The Positive Economist' and The MD of the Hayes Culleton Group & Stephen O’Leary of Olytico.

Dr. David Oxley believes there are four essential career crises that we will all have to face one day. He is also the author of 'A Career Carol: A Tale of Professional Nightmares and How to Navigate Them' - he joins Bobby to tell him more.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Annelie McCaffrey, Managing Director for Domino’s ROI

Joining Bobby for this week's Industry Review are three GPs to discuss the ins and outs of the medical profession in modern-day Ireland.They are:Dr. Eleanor Galvin from Rosemount Family DoctorsDr. Mark Rowe who is also the host of the podcast In the Doctors ChairDr. Brendan O'Shea, Specialist in Occupational Medicine at The Bridge Medical Centre[...]

Following a recent rebranding from SAP Nurseries to Perenia, The Plant Experts, Bobby took a trip out to Tipperary to speak with owner, John Walsh, to find out more about what keeps him and the business going from strength to strength.

The prevailing narrative around Northern Ireland is that it’s a gloomy time; dealing with both Brexit and the fact that it has no working parliament gives the idea that it’s a state in trouble but David Smith, economist with the Sunday Times, has a much more optimistic take on things. He joins Bobby to discuss.

Mary Murray is from a small Irish startup called JR Games that makes jigsaws dedicated to GAA counties. She came bearing a Kilkenny jigsaw for Bobby as the two chatted about the genesis of the business.

Taking place last week was the Irish Management Institute (IMI) National Leadership Conference. Former Twitter EMEA VP, renowned podcaster, author of the Best Business Book of the Year 2022, and workplace culture thought-leader, Bruce Daisley gave a keynote address on the importance of diverse workplace culture in helping leaders and their organisation to innovate.He joins[...]

This week Bobby was joined in the Executive Chair by Noelle McCarthy of Blow Salons.

This week Bobby was joined by Sean Keyes of the currency to explain why we need to build more apartments high into Dublin's skyline.

This week Bobby got adventurous and explored his Viking roots, by visiting the Axe Club at North Dock, Dublin!

Joining Bobby to discuss the biggest business stories in the papers today is Linda Daly of the Sunday Times and Ronan Reid from Cantor Fitzgerald.

Former Munster and Irish player, Marcus Horan, talks World Cup Rugby with Bobby ahead of tonight's game.

Bobby speaks to three people in-the-know to find out how the realm of the sommelier has changed in Ireland in recent years, and where the wine world might take us. He is joined by Nicola Curran Zammit from Two Cooks in Sallins, Philip Dunne, Founder of Vinspire Wine and Spirit Academy Ireland as well as[...]

High-profile, keynote speaker, executive coach, and author on the topic of professional development, leadership, and the future of work and learning, Paolo Gallo joins Bobby to discuss his latest book, 'The Seven Games of Leadership - Navigating the Inner Journey of Leaders.'

To go through the business stories of the week Bobby was joined by Gina London, communications expert and columnist with the Sunday Independent and Declan Ralph, Retail Development Director with BWG Foods.    

This week Bobby was joined in the executive chair by Richard Meehan, President & CEO of Velico Medical

Pat Whelan of James Whelan Butchers who’s book The Irish Beef Book has just been reprinted to celebrate it’s 10th Anniversary and Pat joined Bobby to talk all thing beef.

They say style never goes out of fashion but for those of us who wouldn’t know haute couture if it came up and hit him in the face, finding the clothes that not only fit but make us look and feel like our authentic selves can be a real challenge. Thankfully the personal shopping industry[...]

Cyber Security is a growing business. Kevin O’Loughlin, CEO of Nostra, is busier than ever helping build protections and first line defenses for businesses. Kevin spoke to Bobby.

Dan O’Brien, Chief Economist, Institute for International and European Affairs spoke to Bobby as the nation braces itself for next weeks budget.

This week Bobby went to the Dublin Cookery School in Blackrock which has recently been taken over by a well-known foodie Gerry Devlin. Gerry showed Bobby around the school and introduced him to some of the students.

Behind every success is the unique story of an individual who has transformed their ambition into reality. 21st Century Business Icons: The Leaders Who Are Changing our World is a new book by Sally Percy, which explores the success stories and strategies behind some of the biggest names in business the world over.She joins Bobby[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Ronan Reid, Director of Cantor Fitzgerald Services Ltd.

George Horn is a third-generation master glove maker based in the heart of Dublin city. Founded by George in the 1940's, the business is continued by his son, Brian, and grandson, Gerard.Bobby took a trip out to their shop in Stoneybatter to find out more about the business.

From smart doorbells to fully-fledged 24-hour surveillance, there are many ways to secure your home and business.But even though there is more technology out there to help keep us safe, are would-be criminals also getting more cunning?Joining Bobby to discuss the state of the residential & commercial property security sector is:Aaron Mooney, CEO of Action24Eoin[...]

Huawei has made a massive statement in the world of smartphones with its new processor that showcases its capacity to support 5G wireless speeds.Our resident Tech guru, Andy O'Donoughue joins Bobby to discuss what kind of impact it will have on the likes of Samsung and Apple.

Since 2011, the Very Pink Run has raised in excess of €6 million to support Breast Cancer Ireland's ongoing research and education programmes. This is an opportunity for everyone to participate in a fun-filled morning with music, face painters, and more.Bobby chats to Lorraine Keane who is taking part this morning.

Joining Bobby to take a look at the business stories hitting the headlines is Breda Browne of Unique Media and Des Doris of Alchemy Events.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is David Russell the Chief Executive of Elio Networks

In a period when the world continues to play at denial, Stuart McLachlan & Dean Sanders, authors of 'The Adventure of Sustainable Performance' are seeking to help leaders to instead see foundations.Stuart and Dean join Bobby to discuss.

It’s an essential skill these days and one that most of us learn how to do in our younger years.But with backlogs in driving tests an ongoing issue, how are our driving schools and driving instructors faring in what must be a very busy time?Joining Bobby to discuss is:Darragh Dunne, Allied Driving InstructorsKevin Horgan, Managing[...]

Oakberry Açai is a healthy fast food, present in more than 35 countries and with more than 600 stores.Bobby visits the new Oakberry store in Dublin to find out more about this healthy fast-food treat.

Bobby talks to Conor Pope about why grocery prices are going up when food inflation is going down.

In recent months, as Irish banks enjoy massive profits, consumers were found to have the lowest deposit rates out of the Eurozone, United Kingdom, and the United States.One of the ways to more evenly distribute the profits of our baking institutions is the implementation of a windfall tax, but Cormac Lucey warns against this -[...]

Bobby talks to author, Ben Mezrich who wrote ‘The Anti-social Network’ which is the basis of the new movie ‘Dumb Money’ - all about the strange buying and selling of Gamestop Stocks in January 2021.

Rounding out a hugely enjoyable broadcast from the Three Store on Grafton Street, Bobby was joined by Jack Lukeman - aka Jack L - who played his song 'Battle of the Hawthorn Trees'.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Maria Dickenson, Managing Director of Dubray Books.

Described as “Dublin’s best museum experience” the Little Museum of Dublin has twice been voted the number one museum in Ireland on TripAdvisor. It’s just a stone’s throw away from the Three Store where Bobby and the team were broadcasting from this week - to discuss the importance of preserving the social, cultural, and political[...]

Broadcasting live from the Three Store on Grafton Street this Saturday to celebrate their 'Grants for Small Businesses' Programme, Bobby chats with Padraig Sheerin, Head of SME at Three as well as two of last year's winners of the grant - Megan White, the founder of Runsafe, and Aidan Morgan, founder of A.M Hurley’s &[...]

Bobby and the team were broadcasting from the Three Store on Grafton Street this week, a street that is integral to shopping in Dublin, and home to some of the biggest brands in the world along with thriving independent offerings. But is Grafton Street a good place to do business and what lies in store[...]

Ireland got their Rugby World Cup off to a solid start with a 82-8 win over Romania in Bordeaux last week.They now face Tonga who play their first game in this tournament this weekend.Joining Bobby to preview what is a potential banana skin for us is former Leinster and Ireland player, Shane Byrne.

Joining Bobby to take a look at the business stories hitting the headlines is Susan Hayes-Culleton of Hayes Culleton aka the "Positive Economist" and Conor Faughnan, CEO of the RIAC.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Mary Considine, CEO of The Shannon Airport Group.

We may be known as the emerald isle but Mark O’Byrne has made it his professional life to learn as much as possible about another precious commodity - that of gold.Back in 2003, he founded GoldCore, eventually going on to make it Ireland’s largest gold broker and storage provider.But he’s moved on from that now,[...]

Providing education, care, love, and some respite from our children, creches in Ireland come in various forms from family-run to businesses with multiple locations.But how has the sector changed and what pressures are creche owners facing?Joining Bobby to discuss is:Paula Donoghue, Owner of Clever Clogs in Cavan and National Secretary of the Association of Childhood[...]

With the government telling the Fiscal Advisory Council thanks, but no thanks, Bobby chats to economist, Dan O’Brien, about managing finances and public opinion.

Headwinds associated with COVID-19, Brexit, and the Ukrainian invasion have heavily impacted the healthcare sector in Ireland. In the face of these issues, private operators continue to face challenges in the delivery of services within Ireland, and joining Bobby to discuss this is Grainne Henson, Head of Health Sector with Bank of Ireland

Later today Ireland will take to the pitch in Bordeaux to face Romania in their first game of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.It’s a World Cup which holds a lot of hope and expectation for us and so to preview the clash, Bobby is joined by Will O’Callaghan from Off the Ball.

Joining Bobby to take a look at the business stories hitting the headlines is journalist and author, Valerie Cox and Doug Keatinge, Head of Communications at Avalon.

Joining Bobby in the executive chair this week is Neil Hosty, CEO of Fexco.

Patrice Gordon author of ‘Reverse Mentoring’ explains her process for removing barriers and building belonging in the workplace.

In this weeks industry review we take to a look inside the world of a solicitor, joining Bobby was Keith Walsh, Vanessa Byrne and Michael Smith.

Joining Bobby to talk about his book and the process of ‘Simple Scaling’ was author Brendan McGurgan.

This week Bobby paid a visit to the team at Kube Kitchens to get a better understanding of the latest trends in kitchens.

Joining Bobby to chart the rise of non alcoholic beer was Lucky Saint founder Luke Boase and Quincey Fennelly MD of Wicklow Wolf Brewery.

Economist and professor Stephen Kinsella joined Bobby to explain why the economy is good but only for some of us.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Rory Fitzgerald, General Manager of National Express Ireland.

The third Happy Out café in the Dun Laoghaire Baths building has partnered up with the Together Academy.The Together Academy is a unique social enterprise in Dublin that provides young adults with Down syndrome certified training, practical work experience, employment opportunities, and a critical social and support network.Bobby took a trip out there to find[...]

With many pubs across the country closing their doors for good, Bobby was joined by publican Fergus Murphy and Padraig Cribben from the VFI to investigate what happened to one of Ireland’s staple businesses.

Joining Bobby ahead of the Dalkey Lobster Festival was Hal Dawson, the worshipful fishmonger.

Newspapers and media platforms give people an insight into what is going on across the country and the world, and if it wasn’t for the writers and columnists of these outlets, we wouldn’t be kept up to date with ongoing news and current affairs. Joining Bobby to discuss what it is like to be a[...]

Joining Bobby to take a look at the business stories hitting the headlines is Lousia Meehan the owner of Woodview HRM and also Stephen O’Leary the CEO and Founder of Olytico

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is John Griffin, co-founder and CRO, m3ter.

Over the course of four days, Herbert Park in Dublin will host a line-up of chefs and barbecue experts from all over the world giving live demos and festival-goers the chance to sample some incredible food at this year’s Big Grill Festival. Bobby took a stroll around to meet a few of those chefs.

Cherished for their age, beauty, rarity, and condition - antiques represent many things to different people but they also form a huge part of our shared history and heritage and act as a reminder of our rich and storied past. So for this week’s Industry Review, Bobby peers back into that past by looking at[...]

Economists are a different bunch in comparison to politicians as they seemingly delight in not having to sugarcoat any bitter pills they might ask us to swallow. Cormac Lucey certainly fits the bill in that regard when he suggested last week we should actually raise the property tax. Cormac joins Bobby to discuss.

Creating a presentation that is engaging and effective is easier said than done. Bobby is joined by Dave ‘Fishy’ Fish, pilot extraordinaire and author of 'What it Takes to Create Winning Presentations' to find out how we can improve our presentation skills and how you bring your audience into your story.

Joining Bobby to take a look at the business stories hitting the headlines is Susan Hayes Culleton"The Positive Economist" MD of Hayes Culleton as well as Bob Hoffman of Vista Executive Search.

In the executive chair this week is Jackie King, the Executive Director at Ibec Global.

This week there was a serious breach when members of the PSNI had their data breached. It serves as a stark reminder of the perils posed by cyber risks in an increasingly digital world. Mandy is joined by Dr Michael Nizich, Professor of Computer Science and Cybersecurity at New York Institute of Technology, and author[...]

Average interest rates attached to new home loans has risen to the highest level in almost a decade. Joining Mandy to discuss is Joey Sheean, The Mortgage Coach, and Sean Canney, Independent TD for Galway East.

This week's Industry Review takes a look inside media photography in Ireland. Joining Mandy is Lorraine Teevan - freelance photographer, Mark Condren with the Irish Independent, and Mark Maxwell - Director of Maxwell News Agency.

Laura Moriarty, Group Operations Director at Moriarty Group and Chair of the Licensed Vintners Association talks to Mandy about Dublin City Council's recruitment campaign for a nighttime economy tsar.

Mandy Johnston fills in for Bobby this week, and to look at the top business stories of the day is Emily Hourican, Author and Journalist, and Ciaran Hancock, Business Editor at The Irish Times.

Ronan Murphy, Founder & Executive Chairman of Smarttech247 is in the hot seat this week!

Joining Bobby is Scott Davis, an adventurer, tech founder, and author, shares his unconventional approach to finding balance, beauty, and meaning in life in his thought-provoking book "Surf the Seesaw: Unconventional Essays on Balance, Beauty, and Meaning in Life."

Bobby is sampling what the craft brewing industry in Ireland has to offer. He is joined by three people who are in various stages of their companies: Francis O’Flagherty - Owner and Founder of Connemara Brewing Company, Barbara-Anne McCabe – Co-Founder of Bridewell Brewery, and Cuilane Lochnane – Brewer and Owner of Whitefield Brewery.

120,000 visitors, 1,600 horses competing in over 168 classes and competitions – I'm out and about at the RDS ahead of the Dublin Horse Show.

Joining Bobby is Tom Parlon, the Construction Industry Federation’s Director General, who has seen his fair share of scraps, recessions, pandemics, and more besides. But after 16 years of helping the sector to navigate the good times and the bad, he has finally decided to hang up his boots.

Joining Bobby to take a look at the business stories hitting the headlines is Ken Murphy, former director of the Law Society of Ireland and Valerie Cox, Journalist and Author.

X has arrived, Spotify has hiked its prices and TikTok has moved into texting. Our resident Tech guru, Andy O’Donoughue joins Bobby to make sense of it all.

Do you know the difference between the left and the right sides of your brain? Yda Bouvier wants us to engage our right side of the brain more in our work lives, particularly if we manage a diverse team. Bouvier is a coach with 25 years experience and her new book, Leading with your Right[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Anthony Gallagher, founder & MD of Petstop.

Bobby was out and about at An Post’s Parcel Hub to take a look at what goes on there, to hear about some of the trends of what’s being sent through An Post, and just how much online shopping we’re doing. Joining Bobby is Garrett Bridgeman, Managing Director, An Post Commerce.

Trees provide us with many benefits in terms of improving air quality, and their visual impact, as well as simply being an integral part of the delicate ecosystems we have here in Ireland. But managing them can be tricky and making sure they are safe for our communities, essential. Joining Bobby to discuss the area[...]

Joining Bobby to take a look at the business stories hitting the headlines is Caroline Reidy of the HR Suite, and also Jon Ihle who is Deputy Business Editor at the Sunday Times Ireland.

To wrap up what has been a fantastic experience broadcasting live from Reginald's Tower in Waterford City, Bobby is joined by singer-songwriter, Ryland Teifi.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Peter Mulryan of Blackwater Distillery.

Bobby is joined by two of the biggest foodies from the Waterford area - Tom Doorley, food writer and former judge on 'The Restaurant' and Michael Kelly of 'Grow It Yourself'.

Bobby is joined by some Waterford Businesses that could certainly be considered institutions at this stage - Johnny Flahavan of Flahavan’s; Kevin Jepsen of Ardkeen Quality Food Store; Elaine Power of East Pier; and Liam McDonnell of Legacy Craft Cider.

Bobby is joined by three people who know Waterford inside out - Clare Barrett, the Commercial Manager of House of Waterford; Jim Power, Economist and Waterford Native; and Paul Nolan, President of the Waterford Chamber.

While down in Waterford City as part of The Newstalk Summer Tour, Bobby paid a visit to The Irish Museum of Time.

A visit to Waterford wouldn’t be complete without a chat with Paul Flynn of The Tannery. This Dungarvan institution is a must-visit for anybody who knows their food and for more than 26 years, Paul has been at the helm. He joins Bobby to chat about how things are going and how things have changed.

Joining Bobby in Reginald’s Tower in Waterford City as part of The Newstalk Summer Tour to take a look at the stories that are making an impact on the front pages and the business pages of today’s papers is Dermot Keyes, PR & Communications Manager with Green Acre Marketing and Brian Nolan, Head of Communications[...]

Irish economic growth is still looking relatively strong but with multinational activity slowing, it can be hard to see the wood through the trees when it comes to making an accurate assessment of where the Irish economy stands in real terms. Joining Bobby to help demystify all of this is John Fitzgerald, Adjunct Professor in[...]

Darren Ashby believes a sense of mission is crucial for any company to succeed. He is the co-author of 'Every Team Actually Doing Business Better' and he’s also Chief Impact officer of Businessfourzero. He joins Bobby to discuss the importance of having a mission in business.

Joining Bobby to take a look at the stories that are making an impact on the front pages and the business pages of today’s papers is Norah Casey and Conor Faughnan.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Ray Ryan, CEO of the Noledge Group.

This weekend a festival with a difference is taking place at Palmerstown House Estate, Kildare. 'Forever Young Festival' delights in taking us back to the 80’s with a lineup including legends such as Squeeze, Bananarama, Erasure, Andy Bell, Tony Hadley, and lots more. But despite the nasty weather, festival founder Sharon Alston is still all[...]

Solving the housing crisis and achieving targets with regard to the Climate Action Plan and the National Development Plan will require a huge effort on behalf of the construction industry. But do we have sufficient numbers of qualified graduates coming into the construction & surveying professions and if not, what does the future hold as[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is the Bank of Ireland's CEO Myles O'Grady.

Bobby goes to Rathcoole to visit Well Cann'd Water where he meets the founders. They tell us of the benefits of storing water in cans.

As part of this week’s industry review, we’re getting some fresh air with a panel of garden designers and landscapers. Here to tell us about the nature of their work is Nicola Haines, Landscape Designer, Mark McDowall, Principal Landscape Architect & Garden Designer at Hoctor Smyth, and Diarmuid Gavin, Celebrity Gardener.

Like it or not, there is sure to be one point in your life when you find yourself standing in front of a crowd, being asked to say a few words. It could be a wedding speech, a work presentation or a retirement toast. A big fear for many! Here to give us some tips[...]

There is a growing call to grant Drogheda city status. Conor Skehan who is a Sunday Independent columnist and former lecturer in planning at TUI Dublin has long been a proponent of this campaign and maintains that it points to the future of urban planning in Ireland. He joins Bobby to share his thoughts.

Joining Bobby to take a look at the stories that are making an impact on the front pages & the business pages of today’s papers is Bob Hoffman of Vista Executive Search, and Susan Hayes Culleton of Hayes Culleton.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is the CEO of Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Caroline Bocquel.

FoodCloud is a social enterprise with a vision for a world where no good food goes to waste. Bobby took a trip out to Tallaght to the 'FoodCloud Kitchen' to find out more about the business.

Earlier in the week The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) downgraded substantially its outlook for growth in Gross Domestic Product terms for the Irish economy, but it said the underlying position of the economy is still very strong. This seems to continue an economic narrative we’ve been observing here for a while where we[...]

You may have seen recently that new legislation on health labeling for alcohol products has been signed into law by Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly. This got us thinking about the overall state of the off-trade sector and the many numerous obstacles it has had to navigate over the last number of years. For this[...]

Dominic Ashley-Timms believes that every moment is a coaching moment and if we understand that, our businesses will thrive, and our employees will engage much better. Dominic co-created the STAR manager programme and is also the author of ‘The Answer is a Question: The Missing Superpower that Changes Everything and Will Transform Your Impact as[...]

Joining Bobby to take a look at the stories that are making an impact on the front pages & the business pages of today’s papers is Louisa Meehan of Woodview HRM and also by Joe Brennan who is Markets Correspondent with the Irish Times.

Singer-songwriter, Albert Niland closed out a great live broadcast from the Hunt Museum with his song 'Letter to the Hills Of England'.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Croom Medical CEO, Patrick Byrnes.

Down to Business was broadcasting live in the Hunt Museum in Limerick as part of Newstalk’s Summer tour and in preparation did a survey with listeners on who they would like to hear from on the show. Karl Spain was the clear winner and so he joined Bobby for a chat about his life and[...]

Bobby was out & about at the newly opened International Rugby Experience in Limerick city which has not only won over the hearts of Limerick natives but the building in which it is housed has also been crowned Ireland's favourite building for 2023.

Joining Bobby from the Hunt Museum is Ireland and Munster rugby legend, Marcus Horan to talk Munster rugby, Limerick city, and more.

Continuing his exploration of some of the most well-known Limerick-based businesses Bobby is joined by: - Dr. James Ring, CEO of global management consultancy Ingenium - Gillian Horan, CEO & founder of branding agency, The Pudding - Donal Galligan, CEO Takumi Precision Engineering

Bobby is joined by some Limerick Businesses that can be rightly described as institutions for the city and the wider community. - Mick Dolan of Dolans Warehouse - David Fitzgerald, General Manager of Limerick Milk Market · - Frank & Stephen O'Mahony of O'Mahony's Booksellers

Joining Bobby in The Hunt Museum is model agent and TV presenter, Celia Holman-Lee where they discuss what Limerick means to her and her life and times in the modelling industry.

Joining Bobby to take a look at the stories that are making an impact on the front & business pages of today’s papers is Nick Rabbitts, Business Reporter with the Limerick Leader & Adam Leahy, News Editor with the Limerick Post.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Tom Finn, CEO of Sliver Stream Health Care Group.

Antionette Oglethorpe has a lifetime’s experience in training, career development, and coaching. This spans from her time in Accenture right up to founding her own training and coaching company which has been running since 2012. This week also saw the publication of her new book 'Confident Career Conversations: Empower Your Employees for Career Growth and[...]

Ice-cream makers must be booming right now with the sun splitting the stones and the people getting out and about to make the most of the warm weather. For this week’s industry review, Bobby is joined by three ice cream makers to give us a sense of how things have been going for them: -[...]

As we heard this week, Boris Johnston was found to have misled parliament over lockdown parties, a claim that he strenuously denies. It seems all year long we constantly hear of problems with Boris and indeed the wider conservative party. But what effect, if any, does all this have on the UK economy? Bobby is[...]

Joining Bobby to take a look at the stories that are making an impact on the front pages & the business pages of today’s papers is Joan Mulvihill who is the Digitization Lead at Siemens and Lorcan Allen who is Business Editor with the Business Post.

This week Bobby was out & about at Newbridge Silverware where he got the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes at how one of Ireland's longest-established indigenous businesses operates.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Martin Byrne, Country Manager of EPAM Systems

On Tuesday the PGA Tour agreed to merge with rival LIV Golf, which is backed by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund in a move that surprised almost everyone. So what does this merger mean for the sport of golf and more importantly the business of golf, Bobby was joined by Roddy Carr, former Irish[...]

A recent article in the New York Times described Ireland’s fishing industry as a ‘death by a thousand cuts’ but is that the case? If so, is there really a future for Ireland’s fishing industry? Joining Bobby to look at the industry is: · Brendan Byrne, CEO of the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association)[...]

Bobby is joined by Emily Cosgrove, co-founder of Conversation Space who along with her business partner, Sara Hope, has just authored a book entitled 'Conversational Wisdom: Strengthening Human Connection through the Power of Conversation'.

This week Bobby visited The Rage a shop in the heart of Temple Bar that sellssecond hand games and records. He got a tour from the shop's owner, Ronan Boland.

To take a look at the stories that are making an impact on the front pages & the business pages of today’s papers Bobby was joined by Linda Daly, business reporter with the Sunday Times and Ian Curran business reporter with the Irish Times.

Joining Bobby this week in the Executive Chair is Kurt Takahashi, CEO, Netwatch Group.

This week Bobby took a trip to the Game of Thrones Visitor experience.

Bees are an irreplaceable part of the biodiversity on which we all depend for our survival and beekeeping also provides an important source of income for rural livelihoods. So, for this week’s Industry Review, Bobby wanted to find out more about the business of beekeeping and the rewards we can reap from protecting these incredible[...]

We heard this week that the unemployment rate has hit its lowest level since records began. We’re have surplus tax receipts and yet people can’t afford houses and petrol is going up again. To make sense of the seeming contradictions in the Irish Economic picture Bobby was joined by renowned economist Dan O’Brien.

In the summer of 2021, Chris Kane found himself publishing the first edition of a book called Where Is My Office? It was a time when working from home was compulsory for all. Offices were empty. Two years on from that, Chris has just published the post-pandemic edition of the book. So has our view[...]

Now in supermarkets up and down the country, you will undoubtedly find a plethora of meat alternatives, and with good reason. It’s a growing market and one that is appealing to more and more people who wouldn’t even consider themselves vegetarian or vegan. Richard Sharp & Shane O'Connor, Co-Founders of Seriously Sound Food Co joined[...]

To take a look at the stories that are making an impact on the front pages & the business pages of today’s papers Bobby was joined by Writer and Journalist Valerie Cox and Deputy Business Editor with the Irish Independent Jon Ihle

Joining Bobby is the hilarious and versatile Neil Mularkey. From sharing the screen with Mike Myers in Austin Powers movies to appearing in various UK comedy shows, Neil has made a name for himself in the comedy world. But there's more to him than just laughs—Neil is also a highly sought-after training consultant for prestigious[...]

Joining Bobby in the hot seat this week is Paul Murphy, the managing director of AVCOM. They chat about the early days of the audio-visual market in Ireland, as well as Paul's encounter with Nelson Mandela.

Bobby has the privilege of speaking with Will Beckett, the co-founder of Hawksmoor, one of the world's most admired restaurant chains coming to Ireland. Join Bobby as he dives into the fascinating journey of Hawksmoor, exploring its rise to success and the secrets behind its acclaimed status.

Bobby tackles the buzz surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential impact on our work and the economy. Joining us for this enlightening discussion are economist Cormac Lucey and our resident tech guru, Andy O'Donoghue. They bring their expertise to the table as they delve into the implications of technology on our economy.

Bobby has the pleasure of speaking with three knowledgeable business owners who run their own garden centres. Joining him are Rachel Doyle, the Founder of Arboretum, Carl Jones from Jones' Garden Centre in Donabate, and David Maher from Solas of Portarlington. Each has their own unique business, and they share their experiences and expertise in[...]

Joining Bobby to discuss the latest news stories is Gina London, a Sunday Independent columnist, and Declan Ralph, the Retail Development Director at BWG Foods. They join Bobby to provide expert insights and analysis on the top business stories.

This week Colin MacDonald of Fine Grain Property takes a seat in the executive chair, having spend 30 years in Singapore.

This week Bobby is broadcasting from Singapore as he attends the 'EY Entrepreneur of the Year Annual CEO Retreat' and speaks to some of the most interesting voices also in attendance. In this hour Bobby was joined by: - A panel discussion on social media: - Lorraine Heskin of Gourmet Food Parlour - Caroline Dunlea[...]

Bobby talks to Frank O’Keeffe, the Managing Partner of EY Ireland about the week in Singapore

Bobby talks to Deepak Shandapuri about his theory of investing and the growth of wine in India.

Bobby talks to two finalists and one alumni about the use of social media in their business. Joining him is Lorraine Heskin of Gourmet Food Parlour, Caroline Dunlea from Core Optimisation and Fiona Parfrey from Riley.

Raffles Hotels & Resorts is a Singaporean chain of luxury hotels which traces its roots to 1887. Bobby explores the legacy of the hotel while he visits the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Annual CEO Retreat.

Bobby chats to the Irishman now presenting on Bloomberg in Singapore. Cudmore talks about moving from Ireland to Singapore.

Karen Leong of Influence solutions joins bobby to discuss what culture is all about. Leong is an influence thought leader and sought-after international keynote speaker. A TEDx speaker, and the author of the book ‘Win People Over’, she was featured as one of the ten influential professional speakers in Singapore by the Singapore Business Review.[...]

This week we have an exciting food panel with Ger Killian from the Lunch Bag, Michael McCambridge from McCambridges and Tom Keogh of Keogh’s crisps- all three who are this year’s finalists in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year in Singapore.

While in Singapore for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Annual CEO Retreat, Bobby meets with Dr Claudia Zeisberger. She discusses the importance of demographics and how they can affect your business.

Bobby talks to Kevin Ryan of Enterprise Ireland about why Singapore can be a gateway for Irish Businesses.

This week Bobby is broadcasting from Singapore as he attends the 'EY Entrepreneur of the Year Annual CEO Retreat' and speaks to some of the most interesting voices also in attendance. In this hour Bobby was joined by: - Kevin Ryan of Enterprise Ireland - Claudia Zeisberger Senior Affiliate Professor Of Entrepreneurship & Family Enterprise[...]

This week Bobby was went to the IMAGE PWC Business Woman of the Year Awards. He was joined by Melanie Morris, group contributing editor of IMAGE media and he also spoke to some of the winners.

In this week’s Industry Review Bobby turns to Summer Camps! Bobby was joined by, Tracey Jane Cassidy, owner of Junior Einstein’s Science Club, Mark Kelly, owner of The School of Irish Archaeology and Evan Holton, Principals of Dublin Stage School.

This week Bobby was joined by Alan Cowley, Acting MD of Volvo Car Ireland.

Malene Rydahl joined Bobby to talk about why we should all be a bit more Danish… Malene Rydahl is a Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group specialized in well-being and performance in companies. she is author of the best-selling “Happy as a Dane”, published worldwide in more than 12 languages. Malene Rydahl presents the keys[...]

This week Bobby went to KC Peaches in Dublin city centre to meet Sophie Trueman, Too Good To Go’s Country Director for the UK and Ireland. Too Good To Go is the world's largest marketplace for surplus food that lets customers rescue unsold food from retailers and restaurants so that it doesn't go to waste.

Bobby is joined by Susan Hayes Culleton of Hayes Culleton and the Positive Economist and also by Ken Murphy the former Director General of the Law Society to discuss the stories making the headlines.

Bobby is joined by transport commentator, Conor Faughnan & Business Woman, Nora Casey to discuss the stories making the headlines.

For any business to perform optimally it relies on its documents and information being available easily, quickly, and securely. But doing so is easier said than done. Nik Healy, Solutions Director with Convergent spoke to Bobby ahead of ‘Grow with the Flow - The Future of Document & Information Management’ seminar taking place on Tuesday,[...]

Pat Dawson, Former CEO of the Irish Travel Agents Association speaks to Bobby about his decision to retire.

According to the latest reports, 86% of community managers from 508 different companies said that community was critical to their company’s mission and future. But what are these virtual communities, and what will the impact be on businesses that fail to grow their own actually be? Amber Atherton is a British entrepreneur who is currently[...]

While Ireland has developed into an international tech hub in recent years, we still have our fair share of artisans and craftspeople, plying their trade and honing their skills with tangible pieces of glass, ceramic, and wood. For this week’s Industry Review Bobby spoke to three people who embody that spirit, Tony Hayes, glassmaker &[...]

Bobby spoke to Tom Dolan about his attempt to break the record for sailing around Ireland.

In the Executive Chair this week is CEO of Azets Ireland, Neil Hughes.

In the executive chair this week is Andy Cronin, CEO of Avolon.

Should managers have a creative side, and what can they learn from the likes of Pixar, LEGO, Disney and Friends? Bobby is joined by Adam Kingl, the author of Sparkling Success.

Bobby puts his cup of tea aside to talk coffee with Declan Kinsella of Creed Coffee Roasters in Cellbridge, Peter Sztal of Cloud Picker and Ruslan Mocharskyy from The Art of Coffee.

Bobby learns about the domestic Irish tourist market from Paul Kelly Failte Ireland CEO, and Dick Ridge of Pod Umna Glamping Village.

Chef John Relihan joins Bobby today to dispel your fears about cooking on an open-fire as BBQ season is just around the corner!

Trish Long, Vice President and General Manager of The Walk Disney Company Ltd, Ireland joins Bobby to discuss how the Make-A-Wish charity has changed many children's lives.

Joining Bobby to recap the biggest business stories of the day is Samantha McCaughern the Business Editor of the Sunday Independent, and Stephen O'Leary, the founder of Olytico.

Joining Bobby to recap the biggest business stories of the day is Linda Daly, Business Report with the Sunday Times & Bob Hoffman of Vista Executive Search.

The news of a budget surplus this week was greeted with much hope and enthusiasm about where we could deploy this money. To help Bobby make sense of what this means for the economy and where best to use this surplus is finance lecturer and economics columnist with the Sunday Times, Cormac Lucey.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Collette Gleeson, Managing Director at Comfort Keepers Ireland

For this week's Industry Review, Bobby was joined by a panel of experts to discuss how the interior design sector is faring is: - Jo Linehan, Sustainability Journalist, consultant & founder Gaff Interiors - Eva Byrne, Architect who specialises in House Consultations - Monica Daly of Lighthouse Interiors

This week Bobby headed to County Clare's Milk Vending Machine, operated by Moo'ghna Milk, a business co-owned by John Vaughan and his wife.

Solitaire Townsend is the co-founder and chief solutionist of 'Futerra', who just won sustainability agency of 2023 from EDIE last week and she is also the author of a new business book called 'The Solutionists: How Businesses Can Fix the Future' - a handbook to becoming the type of business leader the world needs. She[...]

If you have attended performances from the likes of Tommy Tiernan, Dave Chappelle, or Bob Dylan you will be familiar with 'Yondr', a US-based technology firm specializing in creating phone-free experiences. Sarah Leader joins Bobby to explain a little more about the company,

This week in the executive chair Bobby was joined by Paul McCann, CEO of Ergo.

Now this weeks saw the announcement of the 24 finalists in this year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. This show has a long association with the programme, to talk about the awards Bobby was delighted to be joined by: · Louella Morton, Co-Founder & Co-CEO at TestReach · David Beggs of Pure Pharmacy ·[...]

Now they are everywhere you go, staring at you everywhere you look. Adverts, and the mystical world of advertising has been fascinating, enthralling and sometimes even enraging audiences since the 16th century but just what goes into making a truly great ad? To answer that and so much more Bobby was joined by 3 of[...]

Revolut has listened to its users and upgraded its app to allow people to open joint accounts. This is just one of many new developments the online bank has introduced over the last few months joining Bobby to give his opinion was Charlie Weston, Irish Independent Personal Finance Editor.

For this week's out and about Bobby visited the Saint Tola Goat's Cheese Farm in Clare.

Joining Bobby to recap the biggest business stories of the day was: Gina London, CEO of Language of Leadership and Ciaran Hancock, Business Editor of the Irish Times.

In this week's report, Bobby visits a luxury handbag store with a twist. Paddy Coughlan of Designer Exchange on Exchequer St shows bobby around and explains the value of investing in pre-owned designer handbags.

This week Bobby was joined in the executive chair by Dermot Usher, the former CEO of SONAS Bathrooms and now owner of Cork City FC.

Tech journalist Andy O'Donoghue fills me in on the industry of space tourism, and how it's a good story for Ireland.

Mentalist Keith Barry chats to Bobby about the power of suggestion and the subconscious when it comes to business.

While you might not recognise James Burstall but you would have been glued to some of the big TV shows his production company has produced. From The Masked Singer to Wurzel Gummidge, his company Argonon productions has been behind them all. He is also a writer and a thinker. His latest book, The Flexible Method:[...]

Joan and Lorcan join bobby to discuss the biggest business stories to hit the headlines this weekend.

Now many of us are guilty of having a sweet tooth, so many in fact that the global chocolate market is valued at over $100 billion. Joining Bobby to discuss the many facets of the chocolate business is: · Simon O'Keeffe, Head of Sales of Lir Chocolates · Aisling Walsh, Marketing Director, Butlers Chocolates ·[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chais is Ronan Foley, CEO of Gallagher Ireland.

Since hanging up his Leinster, Ireland, and Lions jerseys, Jamie Heaslip has knuckled down and completed a Masters in Business and championed startups, particularly in the tech area. He joins Bobby to discuss his latest venture 'Limbo' and to chat about adjusting to life after professional sport.

In recent weeks we have been reading a lot about a potential economic collapse but if the most recent data is to be believed, the bleakest of potential future scenarios is likely to be averted. Joining Bobby to discuss the state of the Irish economic landscape is economist, Jim Power.

Joining Bobby to take a look at some of the big business stories that are making the news this morning is Ciara McDonagh of Healy Communications & Ian Curran, business reporter with the Irish Times.

The importance of the Agrifood sector in Ireland cannot be overstated. It’s Ireland’s largest and oldest indigenous industry, employing 14% of the workforce in rural Ireland. But how have our farmers been faring over the past couple of years and what challenges lie ahead for the farming & the Agri sector as a whole as[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Terry McCartney of Belmont Court and Motel.

Sean Magee is a singer-songwriter from Fermanagh and is now a well-established musician and performer in his own right, playing a wide mix of styles with tonnes of energy. He joins Bobby for a chat and a singsong.

Bobby takes a look at some of the businesses that call Enniskillen home. He is joined by Sarah McHugh, Museum and Heritage Manager at Enniskillen Castle, Noelle McAloon of Enniskillen BID, Genny Brown of Yoga Ocean, and also Joe McGirr of the Boatyard Distillery.

Friend of the show and one of Ireland's most well-renowned and beloved chefs, Neven Maguire, took time out of his busy schedule to come up from Cavan - where he runs his award-winning 'MacNean House & Restaurant' - to chat to Bobby about how he is getting on as well as his relationship with the[...]

To get a better sense of Enniskillen as a town and a place to do business Bobby was joined on a walking tour by local entrepreneur and founder of 'Enniskillen Taste Experience', Mark Adams.

Bobby takes to the water with Barry Flanagan an architect turned tour guide who is the owner of Erne Water Taxi.

Joining Bobby to discuss the biggest business stories of the day was Caroline Reidy of the HR Suite and Doug Keating of Avalon.

Bobby was joined on his trip to Enniskillen by Fermanagh native Nathan Carter.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Connor Heaney, MD and Co-Founder of CXC Global.

Jeweller, Paul Sheeran - the man behind the opening of six luxury watch ‘boutiques’ on the ground floor of the new Chatham & King development off Grafton Street - welcomed Bobby to show him around the new retail offering in Dublin city center and to chat about his beginnings in the industry.

For some they are a place of solitude, for others a world of the mythic and the mythical, somewhere to let your imagination run wild but for everyone, a museum can offer a little slice of heaven. To discuss the trials and tribulations of running a museum Bobby is joined by: - Gill Cousins, Director[...]

As a nation we always seem to punch well above our weight and that was no different this week when it was announced that six Irish business people were named in Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list. One man who can take at least a little credit for the success of the next generation of[...]

For any leader, be it in the field of business, the military, or any professional organization, knowing how to lead and what style will work best for you and your team can often be the biggest hurdle. Neil Jurd is a global expert in leadership development and author of ‘The Leadership Book’ - he joins[...]

It's St Patrick’s Day weekend, Johnny Sexton going for the all-time record of points scored in the championship, his last home game, and last 6 Nations game, and the team is vying for a first-ever Grand Slam decider in Dublin - it couldn’t get any bigger than this. Ireland will be lining out against England[...]

Joining Bobby to discuss the biggest business stories of the day was the positive economist Susan Hayes Culleton and Irish Examiner columnist Ian Mallon.

This week Bobby was joined by three industry experts to disect the trials and tribulations of running a museum or archive experience. Joining Bobby was Gill Cousins, Director of The Hunt Museum in Limerick, Tom O'Rahilly, Director of The Leprachaun Museum and Catherine Toolan, Managing Director of Diageo Irish Brand Homes / The Guinness Storehouse.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Eoghan Donnellan, General Manager at Nisbets Ireland.

Just under 30,000 house completions were conducted in 2022 - a figure widely considered to be significantly short of the average level required to meet housing demand, never mind make up for the lack of completions in previous years. And with the recent decision to lift the ban on evictions this week, what exactly can[...]

Bobby speaks to Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic, author of 'Storytelling with Data: A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals'. Together they discuss how data visualization can help you better communicate through the power of storytelling and the way to make data a pivotal point in your story.

Bobby found himself out & about in Donegal earlier on this week whereupon he took the opportunity to chat with the men and women behind the iconic soft drinks brand 'Football Special'.

The Government is to examine a raft of new measures to try to encourage people to leave their cars at home, of which new charges for cars entering congested urban centres would form a central part. Joining Bobby to discuss this is Cliff Taylor of the Irish Times.

In recent years Ireland has matured immeasurably in relation to its attitudes to mental health and the therapists who help us when we may be struggling. So, for this week’s Industry Review, Bobby wanted to find out a little bit more about the field of psychoanalysis, CBT, and talk therapy as a whole. Joining Bobby[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Joanna Jensen, CEO & founder of Childs Farm.

Co-ops have been part of history since the 19th century, know throughout the world as a tool for empowering marginalised communities. Matt Noyes has just co-authored 'Cooperatives at Work', a book that seeks to remind us of the power of the Co-op - he joins Bobby to discuss.

Recent figures from Europe and the CSO are shedding more light on the current economic situation. So, as the cloud of uncertainty around the economy begins to disperse it's time to ask what this means for the country, for business, and for your pocket. One man with at least some of those answers is economist[...]

Bobby took a trip out to Galway city to have a chat with chef, JP McMahon about the state of the restaurant sector, how he has bounced back after COVID, and how he strikes the right balance between his personal life and work.

It’s arguably the most exciting sport of all, but for many investors in recent years, it’s the most profitable sport of all. Formula One returns this Sunday in Bahrain with lights out at 3pm, but just how big is the business fueling the sport itself? Joining Bobby to discuss this is sports business columnist and[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is John Donoghue, CEO, and Managing Partner of Ifac.

Dr. Ruth Gotian is a New Yorker who has traveled to Ireland to deliver the first two of this year’s IMI Masterclasses. Her specialty is looking at how high achievers keep their level of excellence and her latest book 'The Success Factor: Developing the Mindset and Skillset for Peak Performance' has interviews with a plethora[...]

The need for toughness in business is undeniable but sometimes it’s hard to know where to get it from. One place many CEOs are now turning to is the US military. Katrina Steady is an ex-US military resilience coach with over two decades of experience in the field who coaches CEOs and business leaders on[...]

Bobby was out in west Dublin at what has to be one of the oldest businesses in Ireland and no, it's not a pub. Rathbornes have been making luxury, hand-poured candles, and home fragrances since 1488 - quite an astonishing legacy. He was joined by Rathbornes Managing Director Vincent Brady to talk about the company[...]

While for years we were transfixed on the threat COVID posed to the retail sector, in more recent months we have had the cost-of-living crisis to deal with. But while consumers are being forced to make some stark decisions about where to spend their money, so far the retail sales data indicates spending remains high.[...]

With an ever-increasing desire to look and feel good, food is obviously a huge part of the equation and there is one industry that caters to just those wishes. Nutritionists up and down the country are satisfying our appetites with no-nonsense, honest information about what we should be eating. Joining Bobby to dissect the trials[...]

'As I Remember It: Bertie Ahern & the Good Friday Agreement' is a new podcast that tells the story of the Good Friday Agreement as told by those who negotiated it and marks the first time all those involved have reunited to reflect on the negotiations in 25 years. Head to newstalk.com/goodfridayagreement.

Bobby explores the expanding world of content creation with Lynn Hunter of The Collaborations Agency, content creator and founder of Fia Éadaoin Fitzmaurice, and comedian and actor Michael Fry.

Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurants Association of joins Bobby to discuss the economic report which advocates for the government to extend the reduced 9% VAT Rate until the end of 2025.

Bobby puts on his wellies to visit Lunasa Farm, a free-range pork and beef business.

Ernest Cantilion, owner of ‘Electric’ in Cork City tells Bobby about Valentine's Day in his bar and restaurant. Ernest thinks it's is boring, and couples don't really enjoy it and so he’s decided to do something about it.

Should you mix business with pleasure? Bobby is joined with Niraj Kapur- a LinkedIn Top Voice, LinkedIn Sales Coach and trainer and author of ‘Business Growth: Lessons Learned from Divorce, Dating and Falling In Love’

Joining Bobby in the executive chair this week is David Crimmins, CEO of Medihive

Writing in last Sunday’s Independent Conor Skehan suggested that Ireland could be run better if we followed the lead of the Irish rugby team. Conor joins Bobby to discuss.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Patrick Joy, Founder of Suretank Group.

The night-time economy has been on the ropes for a number of years - from pandemics to licensing restrictions, to a cost-of-living crisis. It’s not been easy. So for this week’s Industry Review, to help Bobby get a sense of how our late-night bars and nightclubs are faring, he is joined by: - Sunil Sharpe[...]

Joining Bobby to discuss the importance of clarity when it comes to your business is Jamie Smart, author of 'Clear mind, Better Performance, Bigger Results'.

Bobby took a trip out to Naas for the launch of this year's Grow with Aldi campaign which is designed to help small and medium producers develop their brand.

The pandemic is over but as we report most weeks here on Down to Business there is still very much a hangover for businesses. John Ihle, the Deputy Business Editor of the Irish Independent, was writing about one recently that may have slipped some companies by. He joins Bobby to discuss.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair was Rachel O'Connor Managing Director of GPG (General Paints Group).

Bobby spoke to Dave Warde the owner of JJ Glynn's Hardware and Key cutting store in Westport on their last ever day of business.

Bobby spoke to Caroline Reidy of HR Suite and Adam Greenfield Co-Founder of Work Life Well about what National Sickie Day and methods of increasing productivity and reducing absenteeism in the workplace.

Books have been around for thousands of years at this stage, and hopefully, they’ll be around for another few millennia to come. But just as the years have come and gone, so too has the long forecast demise of the bookshop and the physical copies we have on our bookshelves. To get a sense of[...]

When you open the door and walk into the office, how many versions of you are walking in with you? Can we really separate all the different parts of our lives, and can the stress of any domestic situation be completely ignored at work? Gabriella Braun, the author of 'All That We Are', thinks we[...]

The Irish Business Design Challenge is back again with this year’s theme being focused on sustainability. The challenge is open to all micro, small, and medium enterprises in Ireland that have designed sustainable products, services, or strategies that have benefitted their customers, communities, and the environment at large. Bobby is joined by one participant, Zoë[...]

To look at the biggest business stories of the day Bobby was joined by Linda Daly the Sunday Times and Bob Hoffman of Vista Executive Search.

On Monday the IMF forecasted that the only economy to see its economy shrink this year is that of the UK. David Smith, Economics Editor with the Sunday Times took a call from Bobby to discuss.

We are joined by founder of Manna Drone Delivery, Bobby Healy. A talented businessman, he kicked off his career building video games for Nintendo, founded Eland Technologies and built CarTrawler. Since 2018, he’s been building Manna whose mission is to improve the world by making lightning-fast suburban deliveries affordable, green and safe.

A panel of travel agents talk to Bobby about how January 2023 has been strong for their industry, looking at new trends since the pandemic. Customers are willing to spend more on holiday packages, with more people opting for cruises than ever before. Paul Hackett, CEO of ClickandGo.com, John Galligan of John Galligan Travel and[...]

Anna Eliatamby has just published the new "Decency Journey" series of pocketbooks to help people flourish in their careers and workplaces. These compact and practical books support business owners, managers and leaders who want to make positive changes but are not sure where to start. In each of the books, the reader is provided with[...]

Bobby has discussed inflation and possible recessions on the show before, but today he talks to economist Cormac Lucey who thinks we are taking too narrow a view.

A new company arriving in Ireland is BRICK- a way to charge your phone when you’re on the go. Albert di Lucia, an Irish market owner explains to Bobby how venues like bars or restaurants can install the charging banks. Almost the norm for Stockholm residents, di Lucia is confident the company is off to[...]

Roger Wallace, Partner Lead for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year joins Bobby to discuss the launch of this year’s programme.

Joining Emmet Oliver in the Executive Chair is Evelyn Moynihan, CEO of Kilkenny Design.

When it comes to America, businesses and musicians often have the same goal - they both want to break into the US market. Matthew Lee Sawyer, author of 'Make It in America: How International Companies and Entrepreneurs Can Successfully Enter and Scale in U.S. Markets' joins Emmet Oliver to discuss.

As more and more of our personal and professional lives are based online, we are under increasing threat of cyberattack. But what is it like for the people and companies at the coalface of cybersecurity in Ireland right now? Joining Emmet Oliver to discuss is: Raluca Saceanu, Chief Executive Officer at Smarttech247 Kevin O'Loughlin, CEO[...]

For decades the rise of the robot has been forecasted but now finally that day may be on the horizon - that is thanks in part to Malachy Ryan, Head of Sales for Europe, the Middle East, and Asia at 'Bear Robotics'. He stopped by to discuss the business and to give Emmet Oliver a[...]

For many households around the country, food waste ends up in the brown bin. But for many, the smell can be a bit off-putting, so what options exist to get people to put their food waste to good use? 'MyGug' is an anaerobic digester aimed at small food businesses, restaurants, home kitchens, and schools, that[...]

Joining Mandy Johnston is John Mullins, Associate Professor of Management Practice in Marketing and Entrepreneurship at London Business School and author of 'Break the Rules: The Six Counter-Conventional Mindsets of Entrepreneurs That Can Help Anyone Change the World'.

Joining Mandy Johnston in the Executive Chair today is Stephen Leddy, MD of Hidden Hearing.

It has been a tough time for the papers of late with their ultimate demise long forecast and yet they continue to be an integral part of this and any other free and open democracy. It might be easy to forget sometimes but the real beating heart of the newspaper industry is actually found at[...]

Many people are currently doing ‘Dry January’ deciding not to consume alcohol for the month after the excesses of the festive season. But what if that month led to a permanent giving up? Kate Gunn took a month of booze and then her life changed. She’s the author of 'The Accidental Soberista' - she joins[...]

Joining Mandy Johnston to chat about how the Irish wedding market is looking for the year ahead is wedding planner and host of ‘Say Yes to the Dress’ Peter Kelly & fashion entrepreneur Isabel Gleeson who has developed a very interesting platform called 'ReBride'.

Bobby chats to renowned Economist Moore McDowell to get his thoughts on the economic year ahead.

Bobby goes stateside and talks to US economy Expert Irwin Stelzer about the prospects for the American Economy.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Paul Merriman, CEO Pax Financial Planning & Founder of AskPaul

For years, John Lowe‘s handbook has helped thousands of people get to grips with the basics of budgeting, learning how to save cash in all areas of their life, and importantly, what to do with it to maximise their return. Now, Money Doctors is back for its 18th edition to give Ireland’s consumers and business[...]

Being fit and exercising are the mainstays of a healthy life and have become increasingly important in this digital world. The Irish gym scene has gone from strength to strength in the past decade and with this in mind, we investigate the world of the gyms of Ireland as we continue on into 2023. Joining[...]

Bobby talks to Damien McCarthy of HR Buddy about some awful trends and buzzwords like "Quiet Quitting" and "Desk Bombing".

Bobby talks to Dr. Michael Colburn, a former Associate Professor of Management at Ashland University and author of ‘Own Your Job: Five Tools for Self-management & Accountability in the Workplace'.

Bobby talks to GP Dr. Mark Rowe about his book ‘The Vitality Mark: Your Prescription for Feeling Energised, Invigorated, Enthusiastic and Optimistic Each Day’.

Bobby talks to Brendan Courtney and Sonya Lennon about their creative partnership.

In a special Industry Review Bobby chats to three people who might help you get yourself right for 2023. Joining Bobby is Louisa Meehan of Woodview HRM, Fitness expert Lesley Giltinan, and Ciara Conlon who is a productivity coach.

Bobby talks to Norah Casey, Bob Hoffman, and Stephen O’Leary about the stories of the year that exercised them the most.

To top off a wonderful year and the final show before Christmas, Bobby is joined in conversation with singer-songwriter, Ultan Conlon.

With just a few hours to go until the big day, it is only fitting that the final industry review of the year is geared towards ensuring your Christmas Day meal runs smoothly. Joining Bobby is Ali Dunworth, food and travel writer, Derry Clarke, award-winning chef, and Oisin Davis of Great Irish Beverages.

Every year Bobby takes a stroll down Grafton Street to get a sense of the mood on one of the busiest days in the retail calendar. This year is no different, as he popped into a few shops, and chatted with business owners, to find out how things were going.

While the Christmas music may be blaring around your house and Christmas cheer filling the streets of your local town, for some Christmas is a more trying time. To cover that sentiment is Ian O’Doherty of the Irish Independent.

For many years, Pat Shortt was offered all sorts of things to use his song 'The Jumbo Breakfast Roll'. While he turned down those offers, he has now teamed up with food business Hosted Kitchens, who launched Ireland's first virtual breakfast brand together. Pat and Sean Murray of Hosted Kitchens join Bobby to tell him[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Lorna Conn, CEO of Cpl.

In the post-Covid era leaders, organisations worldwide are increasingly recognizing the value that coaching can add to improve company productivity and performance. But in the competitive field where each coach expert presents their unique approach, is there a place for some “magic"? Rosie Nice, coach, founder of ESB Training and author of the book 'The[...]

Ireland is home to hundreds of golf courses, including a third of the world's natural links courses. We boast some incredible offerings in some of the most breathtaking locations, so it's no wonder that player numbers have swelled to over 500,000 in the last two years. But do those numbers tell the full story? Joining[...]

Resident tech guru Andy O’Donoghue stops by to recommend some of his top-pick tech gifts for your Christmas stockings.

Submitting maintenance issues with the Snapfix mobile app is as easy as taking a photo or video. Bobby is joined by its CEO and Founder, Paul McCarthy, as well as Sinead Boyle, Rooms Manager at Haddington House, to find out how this new app could be the future for managing a building.

Newstalk’s Kieran Cuddihy, is currently somewhere near the North Pole where he's sussing out how Santa's preparations are going. He took a call from Bobby to chat about how things are looking ahead of the big event on December 25th

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Pat Phelan, Chairman of weight loss from 'Limbo'

All good managers and leaders are concerned about productivity on their teams but what happens when managers begin to worry that their staff aren’t doing enough? In his updated edition of 'The Creative Thinking Handbook: Your Step-By-Step Guide to Problem Solving in Business', Chris Griffiths offers advice on “productivity paranoia”- a new phenomenon in our[...]

Christmas preparations are likely well underway with hams and turkeys being ordered, bottles of wine being stocked, and prezzies being bought. It’s a time of bounty, and here in Ireland, we have an incredible array of products made by homegrown talent to choose from. To find out a little bit more about some of the[...]

Ciaran Hancock is the business editor at the Irish Times and this week alone he was interviewing the Taoiseach-elect as well as reporting on everything from Easons to Hotels. He took a break from his hectic beat to bring Bobby some of the stories of the week.

Bobby stopped into Dogs Trust: Dog Rescue & Rehoming Charity on Ashbourne Road in Finglas to discuss how their rehoming and rescue operations work, welcoming dogs into the workplace, and just how fulfilling having a dog in our lives can be.

When it comes to managing your finances as a business owner at a time of massive inflation and shrinking growth levels - things are certainly challenging. But there are options out there for you. Derek McDermott, Managing Director of Bank of Ireland Finance is an expert in assessing and understanding the challenges facing hundreds if[...]

Today on the show Bobby talked to the winners of this year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

Economist and weekly columnist on economics with the Irish edition of The Sunday Times, Cormac Lucey joined Bobby on the show today to discuss Ireland’s economic prospects for 2023.

Alexandre Mars author of a book Mission Possible. How to build a business for our times, has just been published. He joined Bobby on the show today.

Mary Sadlier-CEO of Coole Swan had joined Bobby for this week's Executive Chair.

With a tourism industry highly impacted by covid restrictions it seems like we now see a better days for hospitality sector in Ireland. Will our hotels suffer another blow from rising costs of living and energy crisis? To ask this Bobby was joined by Carol Barrett, owner of Dunmore House on the shores of Clonakilty[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Leo Sheridan, President & CEO of Advanced Group.

A lot has changed since the start of the year, and as we approach the end of 2022 we here at Down to Business thought it might be an opportune time to find out how the Irish Motor Industry has been faring what with pandemic measures being replaced by rampant inflation and a cost-of-living crisis.[...]

Elliot Wise started his first business at the tender age of thirteen and has since gone on to become one of the leading lights in business mentorship and entrepreneurship. He joined Bobby to discuss his journey through business, staying motivated in our professional lives, and helping people reach their goals.

Next week will see the winners announced at this year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards and in the run-up to that we’ve been profiling some of the finalists and looking at some of the issues facing entrepreneurs. This week we’re taking a look at ‘purpose’ and asking the question - "Can you run a[...]

There have been serious blows to Ireland’s tech sector in recent weeks with job losses at Twitter and stripe to name just two. Yet an Oireachtas committee this week heard that there is still a healthy pipeline of tech investments. To make sense of this and the general headwinds the industry is facing Bobby is[...]

‘The Holly Bough’ is something that I can only describe as a sort of "Cork Christmas Annual" and this year sees it is turning an incredible 125 years old. John Dolan who is its editor, joined Bobby to discuss this year's edition and the history of the publication in general.

Liam Griffin is known throughout the country as the much admired Wexford senior inter-county manager who brought them to an All-Ireland victory in 1996. He has since seen great success creating one of Ireland's leading hotel groups - The Griffin Group. He stopped by to chat with Bobby to tell him how he's been getting[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Billy Kelly, Managing Director at Kelly's Resort Hotel and Spa.

Gavin Glass is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who also produces music. In 2019 he stepped away from Dublin and moved both his home and his business to Curracloe in Wexford. He joined Bobby to discuss the move.

Broadcasting from Green Acres in Wexford this week, we had the opportunity to chat with some local businesses big and small, celebrating what the sunny southeast has to offer for business and leisure. In that vein, Bobby thought he’d speak to some of the businesses and producers in the area to find out a little[...]

Down to Business was coming to you from Green Acres in Wexford this week where amongst many other great guests, Bobby had the chance to catch up with a few local business people of note - namely Vinny Doyle of 'Cry Before Dawn' and Doyle’s Motors & Samantha Kelly aka the 'Tweeting Goddess'.

Bobby was out and about at Rosslare Europort, one of the beating hearts of Irish trade and transport. There he spoke to Glenn Carr, Director of Commercial Business Units at Iarnród Éireann, Port Authority for Rosslare Europort to find out about what has been happening at the port and what the future might hold.

Kevin Dundon is instantly recognizable from the many successful cookery shows he has fronted and who has also had a 25-year love affair with Dunbrody House in Wexford. Kevin joined Bobby in Green Acres in Wexford to chat about how he is getting on.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Sean McKeown, Director of Fota Wildlife Park.

It seems that Irish Banks are all upgrading their forecasts due to rising ECB rates and in tandem with that the government sold a further 5% in AIB this week. If this keeps up there may soon be a call for the government to do away with pay caps and bonuses. To make sense of[...]

Many of us have to decide the path we take in our professional lives soon after we leave school. But for professional sportspeople, that fork in the road comes much later. So, to talk about the challenges of finding their way after leaving the world of professional sport, Bobby is joined by: - Mick Dowling,[...]

Continuing this week we’re profiling some of this year’s finalists in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in the run-up to the Awards night on November 30th and look at some of the issues facing entrepreneurs. This week Bobby was keen on looking at the entrepreneurial experience itself and how sometimes it can be[...]

Bobby was out & about at Art Source in the RDS, Ireland's premier art fair, featuring hundreds of Irish and International artists and galleries. There he spoke to organisers and artists alike to find out all about it.

Whether it's a statement piece or just something that you can wear out on a daily basis, fashion underpins so much of how we express to people who we are. It’s an industry that has exploded in recent years with more and more quality being made available to people of all walks of life and[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Séamus Clancy, CEO at Repak.

Michele Wucker is a senior advisor to Preventable Surprises, a 'think-do' tank that seeks to address systemic risks before they escalate into economic implosions. She joins Bobby to talk about her new book 'The Gray Rhino: How to Recognize and Act on the Obvious Dangers We Ignore'.

Starting this week we’re going to profile some of this year’s finalists in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in the run-up to the awards night on November 30th and look at some of the issues facing entrepreneurs. This week Bobby is joined by Helen Cahill from InvoiceFair and Justin Lawless of Intact Solutions.

Ballymaloe House is known the world over for its use of the freshest ingredients and its sustainable ethos. Bobby took a trip to east Cork to find out how things have been since things reopened following a challenging few years.

Necessity can be the mother of invention when it comes to a good business idea and Mary and Sophie Leahy, a mother-daughter duo, have one such story. Mary suffers from arthritis but still loves a glass of wine so using traditional corkscrews became a big problem. Sophie tried to find her an easy-to-use alternative and[...]

The language of finance has often been seen as a barrier, causing many to feel too intimidated to even begin to try and understand it. So how can we demystify the aspects of finance that we have never been able to grasp? Luckily Si Hussain, co-author of ‘The Finance Book: Understand the Numbers Even If[...]

With Halloween just around the corner, we thought it would be the perfect time to get the thoughts of those in the business of all things ghosts, goblins, witches, and even pumpkins. Joining Bobby to discuss the business of Halloween is: Ronan O'Brien of The Costume Shop.ie. Caroline Whelan, Creator of Galway Patch. Karl O’Connor,[...]

Earlier this week, the ECB announced a 0.75% increase in interest rate, the third increase this year. But will this move actually help tackle inflation and what does it mean for you and your wallet? Cliff Taylor from the Irish Times joins Bobby to discuss.

We know that the hospitality sector faced huge challenges during the pandemic and now that normality has largely returned to the sector, they now face the ever-present spectre of rising inflation. But what does this mean for menu prices and hotel room rates? Bobby is joined now by Gerardo Lario Rizo, Head of Hospitality Sector[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Paddy Campbell of Bewleys Oriental Cafes & Campbell Catering.

Joining Emmet Oliver in the Executive Chair is Aidan & Hilary O’Shea of Otonomee.

When Carmel McConnell started delivering bags of food to a small number of schools in Great Britain, little could she have anticipated just how much her life was about to change. Carmel is the founder and ex-CEO of Magic Breakfast, and the author of the book: "Change Activist: Make Big Things Happen Fast”. She joins[...]

Musical trends come and go, record formats change, and once-hot bands are soon to be forgotten. But for many music fans, one thing remains the same - they choose record stores as a reliable source of new music releases. With the recent revival of vinyl we ask if the mood-music is changing in the record[...]

The World Federation of Advertising connects the world's biggest brand owners in more than 60 markets, bringing together tens of thousands of brands at local level. Together, they create a global network that offers a unique source of leadership, expertise, and inspiration. Every year there is a dedicated conference for all of the National Association[...]

Liz Truss’ resignation has caused chaos across the pond with the Tories struggling to unify its members. With a general election looming, what could this mean for the UK? Emmet Oliver is joined by political scientist, Sir John Curtice to discuss.

Bobby visited Irelands' Favorite Roast Competition this week and he tried to find out how to make country's most beloved dish and who does it best. The competition, in association with Knorr, celebrates the best of roast dinners prepared and served to customers by venues right across the country.

They might not be able to make your worries or high energy bills disappear, but certainly they can bring more entertainment to your life. If you’re bored with dull corporate events or want two newlyweds' families to break the ice at the wedding, consider hiring a magician. So, time to put the cards on the[...]

Brian Ahearn is the Chief Influence Officer at Influence PEOPLE, LLC. A dynamic international keynote speaker, trainer, coach and consultant, he specializes in applying the science of influence and persuasion in everyday situations. He joined Bobby to discuss the power if influencing.

Jim Steel the author of ‘Unashamedly Superhuman’ joined Bobby today to discuss about how to be better at everything.

Neil Delamare is Ireland's most recognizable comedians and Dave Moore is one half of one of the country's most popular radio show "Dermot and Dave". Together they had launched their podcast ‘Why Would You Tell Me That’. They joined Bobby on the show to discuss.

Joining Bobby for this week edition of an Executive Chair is Teresa Arbuckle, the CEO of Beko for UK and Ireland.

Andy O’Donoghue is our Tech Guru and he joined Bobby to talk about why Elon Musk is actually a proper Entrepeneur who makes things right.

26-year-old Aisling Tuck is the founder of Naked Bakes, the handmade plant-based cookie dough, and Oh Happy Treats, a vegan bakery. Aisling created them specifically to plug a gap in the market for plant-based cookies that taste just as good as the real thing, and she joined Bobby on the show.

Joining Bobby for this week edition of an Executive Chair is Elizabeth Crabbil, CEO of CIE TOURS.

This might make your mouth watering. From the giant, international franchises, to niche, artisan restaurants. Irish delivery pizza market is growing, just like a well-done dough. But who will grab the biggest slice of it? Joining Bobby for this week's Industry Review are three pizza delivery market industry representatives: Shane Crilly, the founder of Basewood[...]

Both the economic and political situation in the UK could be easily described as chaotic over the last few weeks. Our regular UK Correspondent is renowned economist David Smith of the Sunday Times and we haven’t spoken to him since the Summer so we’ve a lot to catch up on!

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Managing Director of Dingle Distillery and the Porter House Group, Elliot Hughes.

Philip King shot to fame in 1980 when he became the frontman of the great Irish band Scullion. Since then, he has gone on to even greater success as a filmmaker and producer, winning an Emmy for 'Bringing It All Back Home' in 1988. For a Cork man, he has found his home in Dingle[...]

Neven Maguire joined Bobby to talk about the special quality that Dingle has to offer, the incredible array of produce available in Ireland in general, and the importance of buying local whenever possible. Jim Garvey also stopped by to take about the success of his business, the Garvey Group, and how things have bounced back[...]

Coming to you from Dick Mack's Pub in Dingle, for the Blas Na hEireann Food Awards and Dingle Food Festival, Bobby looked into the realm of food journalism and where we stand as a food destination as a whole with: - Caroline Hennessy - Food writer, broadcaster & author - Ali Dunworth, Food Journalist &[...]

To find out a little bit more about what Dingle as a foodie's destination has to offer, Bobby paid a visit to a few places around the town. He spoke to: - Mark Murphy from The Little Cheese Shop Dingle - Sean Murphy of Murphys Ice Cream - Justin Burgess co-owner of Bean in Dingle

Michael Healy-Rae is one of the most recognizable faces in Irish politics - the scourge of some green politicians and champion of rural Ireland in equal measure. He joined Bobby to discuss his political career and the incredible offerings available in Dingle and co. Kerry in general.

Bobby was broadcasting out of Dick Mac’s Pub for Blas na hÉireann The Irish Food Awards & The Dingle Food Festival 2022. He was joined by the man behind it all Artie Clifford who is the Chairperson of the Awards plus the Supreme Winners of the Awards, Bart Pawlukojc of Aran Bakery in Kilkenny.

Bobby visits the Local Enterprise Village at the National Ploughing Championships; with thanks to The Local Enterprise Offices-Support for new and growing businesses in Ireland.

Joining Bobby Kerr in the Executive Chair this week is Eoin McGettigan, CEO Port of Cork.

For this week episode of Industry Review Bobby was joined by three representatives of endurance events.

With a cost of living crisis in full swing next week’s budget promises to bring some serious assistance to struggling citizens. But will it go for enough or will it go too far. Bobby was joined by Economist Dan O’Brien to discuss.

Last week Bobby Kerr was in Austin and New York for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Annual CEO Retreat. One piece he didn’t get to bring was his chat with the Rigney brothers. Pat Rigney is the man behind the wildly successful Gunpowder Gin from the Shed Distillery and has chatted to use many[...]

It’s almost a cliché at this stage to talk about the growth in Digital Payments. In a seemingly very short space of time we seem to be paying for more and more things digitally. Bobby was joined by Conor Quirke who is the BOI Payment Acceptance Manager for Ireland.

In this second hour of the 2022 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Annual CEO Retreat brought to you all the way from Austin, Texas & New York City, Bobby speaks to the Secretary of State for Texas, John Scott, about his love of all things Irish. John N. Doggett, Professor of Instruction at the McCombs[...]

All week Bobby and the Down to Business team were in Austin, Texas, and New York City for the annual EY Entrepreneur of the Year CEO Retreat. You’ll be hearing from the former American football and baseball player, Quan Cosby, who now works as a business advisor and has some terrific insights into the parallels[...]

Joining Emmet Oliver in the Executive Chair this week is Ken Robertson, Founder and CEO of 'The Tenth Man'.

Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed by e-mails arriving long after you should have finished work or are you in way too many WhatsApp groups at work? Are you Crazy Busy? Thijs Launspach is a teacher in 'The School of Life' in Amsterdam and the author of 'Crazy Busy: Keeping Sane in a Stressful World'.[...]

With so much talk around construction in Ireland at the moment we thought we might find out a little bit more about the design process that goes into the homes, offices, and commercial buildings we interact with on a daily basis. Joining Emmet Oliver for this week’s Industry Review are three architects: ● John Dorman,[...]

Pat Drinan is the founder of Cork-based 'HomeHak', which provides a secure means by which homeowners and tenants can connect with one another. HomeHak offers built-in security with Stripe Identity. Pat joins Emmet Oliver to tell him more.

Perhaps the most famous business encounter the Queen had when she came to Ireland in 2011 was when she visited Cork’s Fabled English Market. One of the people she met that day was Pat O’Connell, a fishmonger of note. Pat joins Emmet Oliver to discuss the experience and reflect on the impact of the Queen's[...]

Next week, Down to Business will be bringing you the show from Austin, Texas, and New York as part of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Annual CEO Retreat. Emmet Oliver is joined by Roger Wallace who is the Partner Lead for the Programme at EY to find out what we might expect.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Andrew Lynas, MD of Lynas Foodservice

Salma Shah runs her own certified coach training programme with clients ranging from 'Reuters' to the UK’s 'Teenage Cancer Trust', and with all that experience, she has just written a new book 'Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging in Coaching: A Practical Guide'. Salma joins Bobby to tell him all about it.

There are few things that sound more appetizing than a sausage sizzling away in a frying pan. They’re a staple of so many households around Ireland, and indeed the world, and so for this week’s ‘Industry Review,’ Bobby thought he’d speak to three sausage specialists to find out about this cherished food staple. Joining Bobby[...]

A constant refrain lately is ‘Why is Ireland so expensive?'. Economist Cormac Lucey says much of it can be explained by the 'Big Mac' - he joins Bobby to discuss.

Bobby was out & about in Sandycove, Co. Dublin, where he met up with Waterford-based entrepreneur Frances O’Reilly, who is the brains behind 'DogDry', a brand new super absorbent dog drying coat for wet dogs.

How legal are drones and should you need a license to own or use one? Joining Bobby to talk more about this is Simon Henry, Business Development Manager at ZenaDrone.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Aaron Mansworth, MD of Trigon Hotels.

Christmas will come early for one local business this year, as 'Champion Green' - Ireland’s support local initiative - is giving small businesses the chance to win a €50,000 retail opportunity, in partnership with Aviva Life & Pensions. ‘Readymade Retail’ was launched by 'Champion Green', in the Blackrock Village Centre in Dublin and the competition[...]

Joining Bobby to talk about how your business can improve and reach its goals through everyday actions is leadership mentor & CEO of Black Isle Group, Jeremy Campbell.

There is plenty of talk of a global downturn of late following the pandemic and the war in Ukraine but writing in last Sunday’s Independent, Conor Skehan thinks Ireland has the ability to possibly protect itself from its worst effects. He joined Bobby to discuss.

Music is a universal language that bridges cultural, political, and religious divides and can bring about the very best in us. So, for this week’s industry review, Bobby sought to find out more about the business of teaching music from those in the know. Joining Bobby is: - Craig Wynne, Owner of the Dublin School[...]

‘Quiet Quitting’ is the concept of no longer going above and beyond, and instead doing what their job description requires of them and only that. Damien McCarthy, CEO of HR Buddy, has had his own experience of ‘quiet quitting’ and he says that it’s not just the employees that are doing it. He joins Bobby[...]

Bobby took a trip out to Bar 1661 - Winner of the Bar of the Year Awards 2022. There he chatted to the owner, Dave Mulligan, about what makes his establishment so unique and tried some of their wares.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Justin Lawless, CEO of Intact Software.

Down to Business has long been a supporter of Focus Ireland’s 'Shine a Light Night' which sees businesses and companies all over Ireland sleep out in solidarity with Ireland’s homeless population. One person who knows a lot about the work of Focus Ireland is Kelly Ann who is a 'Lived Experience Ambassador' for Focus Ireland[...]

It has never been a better time for food lovers in Ireland. Not only are there countless bricks-and-mortar restaurants serving up some of the finest food in the world, but there has also been an explosion in the popularity of Food Trucks that now dot our street corners. To find out what it’s like running[...]

Bobby was Out & About at Mondello Park at the Carole Nash Historic Festival, which was back for 2022. There he took in the sights and sounds of the vintage and classic motorbikes & cars on display. He also chatted to Ian Beatty, Operations & Sporting Director of Mondello Park as well as BMW Ireland's[...]

Next weekend Bobby will be putting his culinary skills to the test by cooking lobster at the 2022 Dalkey Lobster Festival with Lorraine Keane on hand to judge Bobby's technique and presentation skills. Bobby was joined by Lorraine and Romain Tessier, aka 'The Arty Baker', who will also display his skills at the festival to[...]

Writing in today's Irish Independent, Charlie Weston said that many people now fear a new property bubble has built up and will burst. Charlie joined Bobby to discuss.

Every single entrepreneur, no matter where they come from or how big they become, has been at the point in their journey where they ask themselves “Where do I start?” Matt Clifford, co-founder, and CEO of Entrepreneur First and co-author of ‘How to Be a Founder: How Entrepreneurs Can Identify, Fund and Launch their Best[...]

Bobby went out there on the stunning Loop Head Peninsula visiting a novel business that epitomizes the spirit of endeavour and following your dreams. From Milan to Clare with a South American twist, Bobby visited The Flying Alpacas, a small farm that offers families the chance to get up close and personal with Alpacas and[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Geraldine Ruane, CEO of the RDS.

When you think of tattoos you might think of them as being a statement of your artistic side - a representation of who you are - but they also put food on the tables of many people around the country. To discuss the way attitudes around tattoos and how perceptions of the industry in general[...]

The upcoming budget is set to see a landmark tax package with many expecting to benefit from the implementation of measures looking to tackle the issue of rampant inflation. To discuss the plans and what we might expect from budget 2023, I'm delighted to be joined now by renowned economist, Moore McDowell.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Colin Cunningham, Managing Director of Cellnex Ireland.

Bobby took a trip out to Cool Hand Coffee Roasters, the takeaway coffee shop that enables customers to hand-roast their chosen beans in-store!

We have some of the most abundant seafood stocks in the waters around Ireland but do we cherish and promote the beautiful bounty that surrounds us to the same degree as our Spanish, French or Italian counterparts do? For this week’s Industry Review Bobby is joined by three people looking to make that happen. -[...]

Economist, Colm McCarthy joined Bobby to chat about the complexities involved in addressing our carbon emission output, the increased pressures on the agriculture sector, and what will need to be done if we are to reach our goals by 2030.

Bobby was joined by Michelle Auerbach, author of 'Resilience: The Life-Saving Skill of Story'. Together they discuss the book and its aim to help people in any field and any walk of life to become better storytellers, helping them to unleash the power to teach, learn, change, and empower ourselves and the people around us.

Bobby spoke to Ryan O’Neill, Managing Director of Double R Media to chat about his business, 'Retro Drive-In' back in the summer of 2021 while businesses were grappling with the unprecedented disruption of the pandemic Thankfully they’ve made it out the other end and are expanding their offering with Retro+. Bobby spoke to Ryan to[...]

Joining Bobby is comedian, and actor, Pat Shortt. Together they discuss Pat working with his daughter, Faye; the business side of putting on shows; as well as how certain roles help with his sense of creativity.

There was one holiday option that got a lot more attention from “staycationers” last year due to the pandemic - Glamping. So for this week’s Industry Review, Bobby thought he'd check in to see how this sector is doing now that things are back open again. Joining Bobby is: · Wendy Riordan, Owner of Pitched[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is David Warrick, Vice President of Overhaul.

Bobby popped into Willie Duggan Lighting in Kilkenny to chat about all things lighting related. Together they discuss the unique challenges that commercial and residential lighting projects present, and the creative process behind lighting design in general.

There were a raft of bank results out this week with AIB still smarting from their U-turn on cashless branches. Bobby is joined by Joe Brennan, Markets Correspondent for the Irish Times to take a look at the state of the banks.

Mimi Nicklin, author of 'Softening the Edge: Empathy: How Humanity's Oldest Leadership Trait is Changing our World' joins Bobby to discuss the changing world of work, and how business leaders can adapt to make a more empathetic environment for all going forward.

Bobby spoke to Mark “Cokes” Colclough a few weeks ago when he was attempting to become the oldest person to swim the English Channel all for a very good cause. We check in with Mark to see how he got on.

Bobby is joined by legendary performers, Foster & Allen, where together they discuss managing without the ability to tour during the pandemic, getting back on the road, and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Adam and the Ants, Bob Geldoff and more!

Known to many of a certain vintage as Biddy Byrne from 'Glenroe', but to the rest of us, an actress with many, many more strings to her bow, Westmeath’s favourite daughter, Mary McEvoy, joins Bobby to chat about living the good life on her animal sanctuary & farm and becoming a certified Pilates Instructor.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Regina Bushell, Founder & MD of Grovelands Childcare.

Joining Bobby is Richie O’Hara, Founder & Director of ‘Baysports’, Miriam Mulrennan, Arts Officer with Westmeath County Council and former manager of Athlone Arts & Tourism & Katherine Kiveney- Founder of Hen.ie and Stag.ie to discuss their businesses as well as the state of the arts sector in the midlands region.

Athlone is home to some very old businesses in the country with Ireland’s oldest department store and also oldest pub. Joining Bobby is Rosie Boles of Burgess of Athlone & Declan Delaney, Manager of Seán’s Bar to talk about the businesses and the history behind them.

Bobby took a cruise up the River Shannon into the heartland of the country with Pearse Connell of Hidden Heartlands Tours where they took in the beauty of the area and chatted about the touring business in general. Bobby also stopped into the Wineport Lodge Hotel to chat to Ray Byrne where they recently celebrated[...]

Bobby is joined by Fianna Fáil TD for Longford/Westmeath Robert Troy who is also the Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation at the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment. Together they discuss AIB scrapping their plan to remove cash services in 70 branches and what role the Post Office[...]

Bobby is joined by Michael Hassett, owner of Cork-based 'Hassett's Bakery' who has just secured a deal worth €6m to supply Lidl with a chilled cake and dessert range, available in 175 Lidl stores across Ireland.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Joe Queenan, Managing Director of Foxford Woollen Mills.

It is one of life’s fundamental truths that if we don’t push ourselves beyond what we think we’re capable of, to take ourselves out of our comfort zone, then we will never tap into the potential we have within us. Sue Stockdale, Business Transformational and Leadership Change Coach and author of ‘Explore: A Life of[...]

Tourism is a vital component of the Irish economy. So, now that things are back in full swing, Bobby thought he’d get the perspective of three tour guides who make it their business to showcase the natural beauty and historical richness that we have to offer. Joining Bobby is Lorcan Collins, Founder of 1916 Rebellion[...]

Every leader, no matter whether they have several thousand people working with them or just one, has two main responsibilities: to create direction and clarity and to get out of the way. So says Paula Leach, Founder and Executive Coach of Vantage Points Consulting & author of ‘Vantage Points: How to Create a Culture Where[...]

Bobby stopped into the Celtic Whisky Shop on Dublin's Dawson Street to see how trade is going and to chat with Katie Gibson, Marketing Manager, Store Manager, Darren Maher, and Wholesale Manager, Colm O'Connor.

Paul Howard, creator of one of the most iconic literary fictional Irish characters of the last 20 years - Ross O'Carroll-Kelly - joined Bobby to chat about the return of his smash hit musical, 'Copper Face Jacks: The Musical'.

Last week in our newspaper review Bobby highlighted the good news story of the PM Group who were expanding with a whole host of new jobs. So for this week's Executive Chair, Bobby was delighted to welcome the CEO of PM Group - David Murphy.

Almost half of adults aged 50 years and over in Ireland own a pet, and at the top of that list is dogs. But with all the love and joy they bring us comes a lot of grooming and TLC on our part as well. So, for this week's Industry Review Bobby is joined by[...]

The biggest political story of the week, if not the year so far, has been the resignation of UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. John Downing, Irish Independent journalist, thought he saw the signs of his inevitable end when he first encountered him 30 years ago. He joined Bobby to discuss.

The Government's Summer Economic Statement published this week shows the forthcoming Budget will contain spending and tax measures equal to €6.7 billion. It has been described as a "temporary once-off increase," which breaches the Government’s own spending rule of 5% and as a result, economist, Jim Power, thinks political expediency is getting in the way[...]

An Post Commerce are proud to help SME’s to grow and succeed, with an innovative range of parcel solutions and direct mail advertising. One such business is A Sorted Affair by Kim & Lyn who found the An Post Commerce services - like their Advantage Card - a great help in the early days of[...]

There are plenty of candidates for the “toughest job” in business but sales has to be up there. It’s a thankless job and can be tough to stay positive if things aren’t going your way but Jeremy Cassell and Tom Bord the co-authors of ‘Brilliant Selling’ - first published in 2009 and now in its[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Enrico De Luca, Managing Director of Maxi Zoo.

There have been some pretty seismic changes in all of our lives over the past few years, and very few are as big as the way we work. From sudden shifts to working at home, to the delicate balance employers are now trying to find when dealing with their employees whose expectations have changed, the[...]

Cormac Lucey has said that he thinks that the clamour for national wage deals to tackle stagflation won’t pay off in the end. S, what can or should be be done? Cormac Lucey, Economics Columnist with the Sunday Times joins Bobby to discuss.

Over the course of the last few weeks one lucky business, in competition with two others, had the opportunity to win a €100k value package known as The Iconic Business Bursary. The winning prize included: 100k package: €50k worth of workspace at the stunning Iconic Offices, a €25k Newstalk media package, and €25k in marketing[...]

POWERCUT - the Irish athleisure wear company - has been taking the Irish market by storm both online and in Dunnes Stores around the country. Bobby is joined by Craig and Bronagh Mulhall, co-founders of POWERCUT Clothing to chat about the origins of the business.

Icon Offices want to give back to the business community, therefore one lucky business will have the opportunity to win a €100k value package known as The Iconic Business Bursary. The winning party will get the following in their 100k package: €50k worth of workspace at the stunning Iconic Offices, a €25k Newstalk media package,[...]

Jonathan was joined by Nick Connors, a CEO of TEKenable.

We humans are pretty good problem solvers - we probably wouldn’t have gotten to where we are now if we weren’t. But do we fully utilise this skill in the workplace and if not, how do we get better at doing it? Arnaud Chevallier, Professor of Strategy and Decision Making at IMD & co-author of[...]

The tourism and travel sectors were hit harder than most during the course of the pandemic. But they’re nothing if not resourceful and have found new ways and means to bounce back despite all the adversity.

Irish households are facing the biggest drop in living standards since the 2008 the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has warned. To discuss this and the wider economic situation in Ireland Jonathan was joined by Declan Jordan, Senior Lecturer in Economics at Cork University Business School.

Irish consumers recycled a record number of electrical items last year. But is simply recycling enough to create a truly green and circular economy? What about the electronic products that might just need a bit of refurbishing? Kilian Kaminski, Co-Founder of Refurbed joined Jonathan today to discuss.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Anna Classon, RNLI Head of Ireland.

Energy sustainability and the safeguarding of our coastal regions has never been more important. To chat through what is being done here and elsewhere and how we can protect our coastal regions for future generations, Bobby is joined by Stephen Dunne, Editor of ReNews, Europe’s most prestigious renewable energy trade publication & Ciarán Farrell, COO[...]

Icon Offices want to give back to the business community, therefore one lucky business will have the opportunity to win a €100k value package known as The Iconic Business Bursary. The winning party will get the following in their 100k package: €50k worth of workspace at the stunning Iconic Offices, a €25k Newstalk media package,[...]

Wicklow is known as the garden of Ireland but of course, there are innumerable opportunities for entrepreneurs and business people alike and so Bobby wanted to take a look at what Wicklow as a town and a county has going for it. To find out more Bobby is joined by: - Matt Forkin who is[...]

For this week's 'Down to Business,' Bobby & co were in the garden of Ireland at Wicklow Sailing Club for the start of the SSE Renewables Round Ireland Yacht Race. There he spoke to some local business people to hear how they've been getting on. - Quincey Fennelly of Wicklow Wolf - Mark Van den[...]

Legendary artist, naturalist, and all-round Irish TV legend Don Conroy stopped by to chat with Bobby about what he's been getting up to the past few years, what inspires him to paint and draw, and discuss the importance of keeping in touch with nature.

For a very special show broadcasting from Wicklow Sailing Club ahead of the start of the SSE Renewables Round Ireland, Bobby is joined by Barry Kilcline, Head of Offshore Development, SSE Renewables, and also David McHugh a previous winner of 'Round Ireland' to look ahead to this year's race, and chat about what the conditions[...]

How can you cut through all the unnecessary complexity of adopting new technology and new digital concepts for your business? Bobby was joined by Tom Goodwin, author of the book Digital Darwinism to find out

Art College is possibly not what people might think it is. Bobby took a stroll up to Thomas Street to pay a visit to the National College of Art and Design where this week the work of their graduates is being showcased.

Elon Musk is forcing all Tesla Employees to return to the office. Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, author of Returning to the Office and Leading Hybrid and Remote Teams: A Manual on Benchmarking to Best Practices for Competitive Advantage, spoke to Bobby about Musk's latest antics.

In the Executive Chair this week is Sarah Jane O’Dwyer, HaloCare Group CEO

Festivals are back! And there are plenty to choose from - and not just ones that require a pair of wellies and a poncho! Bobby was joined in Studio by: ● Sorcha O’Reilly, Artistic Director of Kaleidoscope Family Festival taking place in Blessington, June 24th-26th. ● John Crumlish, CEO, Galway International Arts Festival, July 11th-24th.[...]

Over the next 3 weeks we will be profiling the three finalists of the Iconic Offices Business Bursary competition on Down to Business. First up today is the founder and CEO of Zipp Mobility Charlie Gleeson

Bobby remembers Ray Coye of Largo Foods and Tayto Park who recently passed away.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Daniel Mackey, Founder & Chief Technical Officer at Teamwork.com

Things are definitely getting back to normal because after two years of virtual events 'Bloom' is back live in the Phoenix Park. Now in its 16th year, 'Bord Bia Bloom' has become one of Ireland’s largest showcases celebrating the best of Irish horticulture, food, and drink. Bobby took a trip out to Phoenix Park to[...]

Animation is a magical medium that not only captures the imagination but can also teach us valuable lessons as well. It just so happens that here in Ireland, we have some of the most talented and dedicated creative minds in the animation business. So, to help Bobby better understand how it all works, he was[...]

Across the water our closest neighbours are celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee where Queen Elizabeth II has been on the throne for a staggering 70 years. But how are things looking for the British economy with a Prime Minister who has skirted dangerously close to being fired, a war in Ukraine, and of course rampant inflation?[...]

For many pop music fans, the return of ABBA live-in-concert has been long-awaited. Tech guru Andy O'Dononbhue joined Bobby to talk about the Abba avatars that have been created to make the show possible - technology which he thinks is the metaverse happening in front of our eyes!

Joining Bobby in the Executive chair is Paul Candon, CEO of United Hardware Limited.

Neil Bannon is a well-known retail property expert and the executive chairman at Bannon. He thinks that the death of the retail property market is being overstated and that the media, including us here on 'Down to Business', are over-egging it. Neil joined Bobby to discuss.

We are a nation of animal lovers, and with that comes a lot of care. But how have things been for those who make it their life’s work to take charge of that care in the last few years? To find out Bobby is joined by: - Elise O'Byrne White, Veterinary Surgeon at the DSPCA[...]

Friend of the show, Mark Simmonds, has just published a new book that looks at the growing and the seemingly inescapable problem of letting work stress get the better of you. Mark took a call from Bobby to chat about what we can do to mitigate the impact of a heavy workload as well as[...]

Leo Cullen’s Leinster take on Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle at Stade Velodrome in Marseille in the Heineken Champion’s Cup Final this afternoon and so to look ahead to what promises to be a colossal match, Bobby is joined by Off the Ball’s Will O’Callaghan to get his predictions.

Bobby welcomed to the studio Fiona Uyema, who is a cookbook author and founder of the Asian cooking essentials range ‘Fused’. Her food, and indeed business journey, began after time spent in Japan and she’s just this week launched 2 new spicy sauces with 100% of profits going to the Irish Red Cross's vital work[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is David Byrne, Managing Director of Lisney. Listen and subscribe to Down to Business with Bobby Kerr on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.    Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Do you feel there should be more to running a business than the focus on profit alone? Do you ever wonder why you work so hard yet still feel that something is missing? Andrew Thornton, the co-author of  'Putting the Heart Back into Business: How to Place People, Planet, and Purpose at the Core of[...]

Physios are an integral part of our health system, keeping us fit and strong to help us deal with whatever life throws at us. Whether you’re a stay-at-home type or a fitness fanatic chances are you’ve had to employ the knowledge, care, and expertise of one of them at some point in your life and[...]

With constant talk of inflation, we may also now have to deal with a dreaded rise in Interest Rates. Writing recently in the Sunday Independent Economist Colm McCarthy talked about the ‘holiday drawing to a close’. Colm joined Bobby in the studio to discuss. Listen and subscribe to Down to Business with Bobby Kerr on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.   [...]

Bobby was out & about at the Fitzgerald Woodlands House Hotel & Spa in Adare, co. Limerick. There he caught up with Mary Fitzgerald, Elaina Fitzgerald Kane, and David Fitzgerald to find out more about the legacy of the business as well as how the industry, in general, is holding up. Listen and subscribe to Down[...]

Bob Hamilton is a former banker who is now making a business out of selling memorials to the Irish diaspora across the world with his business 'Irish Urns'. Bob joined Bobby to discuss. Listen and subscribe to Down to Business with Bobby Kerr on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.    Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Laura Dillion, Managing Director & Head of the Irish Team at Waterland Private Equity Investments. Listen and subscribe to Down to Business with Bobby Kerr on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.    Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk[...]

For this week's Out & About Bobby paid a visit to Asia Market on Drury Street in the heart of Dublin city. He was joined by Eva Pau, Commercial Director of Asia Market to discuss the long history of the store which has been in operation since 1981. Listen and subscribe to Down to Business with[...]

Economists can often be labeled pessimistic, and yet they would counter that they are being realistic. With that in mind, in last weekend’s Sunday Times, Cormac Lucey dared to use the word "recession" in his weekly column so Bobby thought he'd find out just what the prognosis is for the Irish economy in the coming[...]

When you hear about personal insolvency, more often than not it’s some multi-million write-off that you’ve read about in the papers. But what about the everyday working business people who can’t pay off their debts? How does the whole insolvency issue get resolved and what are the usual outcomes?  Joining Bobby to shed some light[...]

Many companies put huge amounts of money into training their sales teams. But when it comes to getting the most out of your team - how can you better coach and nurture the potential you see in them? Mark Garrett Hayes is a Sales Coach and author of ‘Sales Coaching Essentials: How to Transform Your[...]

We all know about increased prices in seemingly every sector of our lives - not least in our shopping baskets - but what about the people who actually make and process our food and drinks? To discuss the impact of inflation on this area, Bobby was joined by Roisin O’Shea, Head of Food & Drink[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Colm Kelleher - Managing Director of LHK Group. Listen and subscribe to Down to Business with Bobby Kerr on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.    Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

From inflation to energy supply issues, there have been some ill winds blowing across Ireland for some time now. Economist, Dan O'Brien joined Bobby to chat through some of the issues faced by the Irish economy over the last few years and to try to find some light amongst the gloom. Listen and subscribe to Down[...]

EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. 2022

For many of us, financial worries are one of the primary sources of stress in our lives. In fact for some, the notion of a stress-free relationship with money seems like a pipe dream but for Michael Gilmore author of ‘The Little Book of Zen Money’ that couldn't be further from the truth.  He joined[...]

Out and About at Ireland's Eye Knitwear in Baldoyle, Dublin

Can you really work from anywhere?

Earlier in the week Bobby got to interview Steve Wozniak at the Pendulum Summit. Wozniak is an American electronics engineer, computer programmer, inventor, philanthropist and technology entrepreneur. In 1976, with business partner Steve Jobs, he co-founded Apple Inc., which later became the world's largest information technology company by revenue and the largest company in the[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Dermot Crowley, CEO of Dalata Hotel Group. Listen and subscribe to Down to Business with Bobby Kerr on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.    Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Bobby Bobby was reporting from The Hardwareshow 2022 this week the annual event for Home - Garden - Builds and DIY. #BobbyMeansBiz! Bobby chatted with Michael O'Donohoe, President of the Hardware Association of Ireland, Martin Markey, Chief Executive Officer of the HAI, Helen O'Dwyer, Head of Marketing at Solas, Denise McCarthy, Brinks Cash Services Ireland,[...]

The Iconic Business Bursary wants to give you €100k to help grow your business.

Michael Carvill - MD of Kenmare Resources joins Bobby to discuss his life and times in business in this week's 'Executive Chair'

Liam Cassidy discusses his new book 'Make your Factory Great and Keep in that Way'

How is the flowr industry faring in Ireland? Bobby sought to find out in this week's episode of Industry review.

The life and times of Joe Lynam

Every company has its milestones and sometimes it’s nice to celebrate those. Irish children’s clothing brand, BabyBoo.ie, has recently made its 1 millionth baby bib sale. Founded by two mums, Vicki O’Callaghan and Michelle O’Riordan, 8 years ago their business has succeeded in the competitive baby market. They joined Bobby to discuss. Listen and subscribe[...]

'The Speed Queen' is a self-service laundry that uses less water and fewer chemicals. They have just opened their 9th Irish store out in Dundrum and so find out more about what sets them apart from your run-of-the-mill laundry service, Bobby spoke to the man behind the business, Patrick Brennan. Listen and subscribe to Down to[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Alan Cox, former CEO of Core. Listen and subscribe to Down to Business with Bobby Kerr on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.    Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

The Truth About Digital Transformation

There are so many incredibly successful cosmetics brands here in Ireland that for this week's Industry Review Bobby wanted to find out a little bit more about what the area is like from those who have made it their own. Joining Bobby to discuss is: Aimee Connolly, Founder & CEO of Sculpted by Aimee  Nicola[...]

Watching the economic news is like watching two movies at the same time - so says Cliff Taylor of the Irish Times. He joined Bobby to discuss the muddled picture that is the Irish domestic economy what with employment at record levels; labour shortages despite a string of job announcements; the war in Ukraine, as[...]

Now, as we all know we Irish are known for enjoying a pint or two and of course, that reputation is somewhat earned. But not everyone indulges and for those that still want to enjoy a night out or a pre-theatre tipple but without the hangover, there's 'The Virgin Mary' on Capel Street. Bobby popped[...]

John Glackin is best known for this role as the government-appointed inspector in the Johnston, Mooney, and O’Brien and Telecom Eireann saga which led to the ground-breaking reports of 1992 and 1993 from his memoir, 'A Glackin Report: My Life in Luck and Law', takes its title. John joined Bobby to discuss. Listen and subscribe[...]

Cally Beaton is a writer, entrepreneur, business mentor, and keynote speaker but might be best known for her stand-up comedy. She’ll be speaking at this year’s Pendulum Summit taking place on April 26th and 27th at the RDS in Dublin - she joined Bobby to discuss her journey through professional life and the path that[...]

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Ray Coyle of Tayto Park. Listen and subscribe to Down to Business with Bobby Kerr on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.    Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Chocolate Makers

On ‘Down to Business’ we often have the pleasure of speaking to some of the most interesting and engaging people in the world of business. Sharon Lechter, is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, motivational speaker, chartered global management accountant & co-author of the best-selling ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ and a staggering 22 other books. Sharon is a[...]

Twenty years ago this very day Newstalk began broadcasting. Twenty years is a long time in the media space and things back then were wildly different from how they are today. Garett Harte of Harte media who was the station’s first employee and would go on to become its longest-serving editor in chief joined Bobby[...]

CEO Adam Coleman of Lahinch-based HRLocker is taking flexible working to new heights. He's working from 23 different locations across four countries in six weeks to prove that not only is “work” not a place but to demonstrate the efficacy and benefits of flexible working, for both employee and employer. He joined Bobby to tell[...]

Guaranteed Irish has announced the winners of the 2022 Guaranteed Irish Business Awards, proudly supported by Permanent TSB. One business that caught Bobby's eye was the Winner of the Professional Services - Business Support Solutions Award and that was a company called ‘Call Pal’. Bobby was joined by its MD Rachel Gray to find out[...]

Bus Eireann CEO, Stephen Kent

The Future of Recruitment

Industry Review: Dentists

"It's bad, but it has been worse"

Hot Chocolate by 'Spoond'

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Brendan Nevin, Chair & Co-Founder of Code Institute. Listen and subscribe to Down to Business with Bobby Kerr on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.    Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

You can reclaim your power to make a difference by unleashing your inner maverick. So says Jules Goddard, co-author of “Mavericks: How Bold Leadership Changes the World”. Along with his co-authors, he asks what you as a leader can do to make the world a better place. Jules joined Bobby to discuss. Listen and subscribe[...]

With so much of our lives being spent online and so many of our purchases being done from the comfort of our own homes, it can be tough for some businesses to get the business they once did. One sector that has been written off time and time again is the humble bookshop. Thankfully they're[...]

Inspired by nature - bees making honey, fresh ingredients and nothing artificial - Miena’s Irish Handmade Nougat specialises in making the freshest and most natural nougat possible. Bobby paid a visit to Miena’s kitchen in the beautiful Glen of Imaal to find out more. Listen and subscribe to Down to Business with Bobby Kerr on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.   [...]