Down To Business

This week, CEO of Deloitte Ireland Harry Goodard joins Bobby in the Executive Chair.

Linda Daly, Business Reporter with the Sunday Times and Tom Molloy, former Group Business Editor at The Independent and until recently the Director of Communications at the Green Party join Bobby for this week's business story round up.

A look into any high street window across the country will show that Ireland's tailoring trade is evolving - blending tradition with fresh demand for quality, personal service, and sustainable fashion. Louis Copeland of Louis Copeland and Sons, Robin Johnson of Johnson's Tailors in Tullow and Sean Treacy, Owner of Hunter Treacy Tailors join Bobby in studio to discuss how the craft is thriving.

Áine Kennedy, founder of the Smooth Company was chosen as the winner of the Emerging Entrepeneur category at the EY Entrepeneur of the Year Awards on Thursday evening. She joins Bobby on the show to discuss her journey.

It may be chilly outside, but this week, Bobby is out and about at Sun Bear Gelato on Dawson Street! He had the chance to meet David Hennessy, the owner of Sun Bear, and chat all things gelato!

Ireland's housing crisis is often framed around supply and affordability, but Colm Lauder, Founding Partner at Lauder Teacher and Business Post contributor argues that an ageing population - and a housing stock poorly suited to older residents - is the real structural challenge now coming into view. He joins Bobby to discuss...

Bobby was out & about in Baldonnell Business Park at Amazon's fulfilment centre, where he had the opportunity to see the scale of the operation and to chat to Alison Dunn, Amazon's country manager for Ireland & Marcus Mallon, Site Lead at Amazon.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Paul Jacob, CEO and founder of Smart Storage & Wicklow Hub.

For this week's Industry Review, Bobby dives into a growing trend in the property world: Home Staging.It's the art of transforming a house into a space buyers can instantly connect with, and it's becoming a powerful tool for sellers looking to stand out in a competitive market.Bobby is joined by three business owners who are at the forefront of this industry:Vanya McCarthy, MD and Owner of Stage My Home Martyna Wilk, Co-Director & Founder of Smart Home StagingSinead Considine co-owner of The Interiors Project

Regular listeners will know that Down to Business has a long association with the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. This week, Bobby is joined by some of this year's finalists and alumni to look at the changing nature of financial services. Joining Bobby is:Eddie Dillon, who is a finalist in the emerging categoryDerek Foley of Grid Finance who is in the established categoryRoger Wallace, Head of Assurance & EY Entrepreneur of the Year Partner Lead

Bobby is joined by Charlie Curson to chat about his new book 'Be More Strategic: 12 essential practices to build the life and career you want'.

Joining Bobby to run through the business pages from the morning papers is Joan Mulvihil, Digitization Expert & Bob Hoffman of Vista Executive Search.

For today's Industry Review, Bobby explores the challenges and opportunities facing driving schools and driving instructors today. Joining Bobby to discuss is:Kevin Horgan, Founder of the National Driving SchoolDominic Brophy, Co-Director of the Professional Driving Instructors AssociationLara Lewis, Driving Instructor.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Tony Gibney, Chairman of Gibney's

Dr. David Oxley joins Bobby to chat about his new book 'The Artificial Death of a Career', which reminds us that it's all too human to seek to reduce uncertainty, but in doing so, it creates a 'cocoon' that is limiting and ultimately energy-sapping.

If you are one of those people who feel they've been spending too much time on their phone, The Irish Times' Business and Technology journalist Ciara O'Brien has been using a device that might actually help. She joins Bobby to discuss.

Regular listeners will know that Down to Business has a long association with the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. This week, Bobby is joined by some of this year's finalists and alumni to look at the topic of education and how entrepreneurs are changing the nature of learning. Joining Bobby is:Brendan Noud, co-founder and CEO of LearnUponKarl Fitzpatrick, CEO of Chevron College Louella Morton, co-founder and co-CEO of TestReach

Joining Bobby to go through the main stories from the business pages is Carolie Reidy of the HR Suite & Lorcan Allen, Director of Business Development with Keatings & Associates.

Emmet Oliver is joined by Marc Woods, author of Best Teams: Creating and Maintaining High-performing Teams.

Joining Emmet Oliver in the Executive Chair is Steve MacNicholas, CEO for Ireland at Ekco.

For this week's Industry Review, Emmet Oliver dives into the booming world of sports travel - a business that sits right at the crossroads of adventure, competition, and tourism. Joining Emmet is:Sean Baird, Business Development Manager with Killester TravelMarty Carr, Founder & Chairman of Carr Golf TravelFrancis Roche, Managing Director of Marathon Sports Travel

What began at her kitchen table during lockdown, designed between nap times and night feeds, has grown into a thriving Irish brand now stocked in Carrolls stores across the country and sold online to over 40 countries. SnooZip is a clever, family-focused sleepwear brand whose creator, Aisling Ryan, joins Emmet Oliver in studio to discuss

Down to Business has a long association with the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, and over the next few weeks, we'll be hosting discussions around some of the issues faced by entrepreneurs with some of this year's finalists and alumni of the programme. Joining Emmet Oliver to look at sustainability and how to keep it a concern while also turning a profit are two of this year's finalists:Seamus Fahy of ICS Medical DevicesDavid Corcoran of SoltecRose Hyde of Ballymaloe Food

Joining Emmet Oliver to go through the main stories from the Saturday business pages is Susan HayesCulleton, presenter of Taking Stock here at ewstalk & Ronan Reid of Cantor.

We all know AI is a challenge that most of us look at with fear and trepidation. Mike Wright, co-writer of The 14 Behaviors Driving Successful Digital Transformation in the Age of Gen AI, joins Emmet Oliver to look at some behaviors that might help us succeed.

Joining Emmet Oliver in the Executive Chair is Brendan Nourse, Managing Director of Image Supply Systems Audio Visual.

Vinyl is back, and it's not just down to some passing trend or nostalgia. Across Ireland, record players are being dusted off, and a whole new generation is discovering the magic of the album. Emmet Oliver is joined by Chris Keena from Anthem Vinyl, Ireland's only record pressing plant; Ray O'Brien, owner of Music Zone in Togher, Cork; and Enda Gogarty from Spindizzy Records in Dublin to talk about the vinyl revival, what's behind it, and why it's here to stay.

In a world full of uncertainty, we love to cling to control and systems. Dr Margaret Heffernan thinks that if we embrace uncertainty in the way artists and creatives do, we might find solid ground to walk towards the future. Dr Heffernan joins Emmet Oliver to discuss.

Irish Pop Up Collective was set up in 2019 to support small Irish brands and businesses and give them a retail platform, as they are unable to afford a bricks & mortar space. They have approximately 50 makers/brands at each event, with a minimum of €100k worth of business being done on the day. There have been seven events so far, with two more Irish Popup Collective events taking place on 7th & 14th December in The Royal Marine Hotel. Emmet Oliver is joined by Kate Fine, co-founder of the collective & Una Burke, whose leatherwork will feature in both events.

Joining Emmet Oliver to go through the main business tories from the Saturday papers is Lousia Meehan of Woodview HRM & Declan Ralph from BWG Foods.

Bobby is joined by Sara Daw, Group CEO of The CFO Centre and The Liberti Group, to talk about the concept of fractional leadership and why business leaders are buying into the concept.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Jim Meade, outgoing Chief Executive of Irish Rail.

In an age of tapping, is the smell and feel of paper money dead? Joining Bobby to discuss whether cash is still king is Conor Pope, consumer affairs correspondent with the Irish Times.

From homegrown skincare to high-end makeup, Irish brands are making serious waves both at home and abroad.Joining Bobby to discuss the sector are three of the driving forces behind that success:Nicola Connelly from Nunaia Niamh Ryan, Co-Founder of Ella & Jo Amy Cahill, Owner of Oxmantown Skin Care

What or how do you want to feel when you want to go out to eat? Two people who know a thing or two about making customers feel welcome and cared for are Robbie Bargh, founding partner of Gorgeous Group & renowned Michelin-starred Chef Ross Lewis. They join Bobby to chat about the industry.

Joining Bobby to go through the main business stores from the Saturday papers is leadership & communication expert, Gina London & Ronan Reid of Cantor

Bobby is joined by Nic Marks, author of 'Happiness is a serious business: Why happy teams are more successful and how to build them'.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Dorothy Creaven, Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer of Jentic.

Ireland's visual art scene is full of creativity, challenge, and conversation, and today Bobby hears from three people right at the heart of it.For this week's art-focused Industry Review, Bobby is joined by: ● Jerome O'Drisceoil, founder & owner of the Green on Red Gallery ● Thais Muniz, visual artist ● Geraldine O'Neill, Artist and member of Aosdána

Last night, people nationwide from schools, communities, and companies slept outdoors to shine a light on child homelessness and, of course, to raise funds. Newstalk's Own Josh Crosbie was at various locations throughout the night - he joins Bobby to discuss.

Joining Bobby to run through the main business stories from the Saturday papers is Linda Daly, Business reporter with the Sunday Times & Doug Keatinge of Avolon.

If you are looking to buy gold, you may be in for a shock as the price of gold levelled off at $4,000 per ounce this week, marking a 53% gain in 2025. Joining Bobby to discuss what is behind this shift adn whether there may be wider implications for the economy is economist, Paul Sommerville.