Down To Business

Did you have a summer job? Do your children currently have one? When is too young to start working or should teenagers just be given the summer off? Saoirse Hanley of the Irish independent recently did a deep dive into the area - she joins Bobby to discuss as does Sinead English a career management specialist from ‘HILT'.

Solar power has gone from being a niche technology to one of the fastest-growing parts of Ireland's energy landscape. But as the sector expands, there are big questions around investment, grid capacity, planning, and whether Ireland has the infrastructure needed to make the most of this renewable resource. So, to look at the future of solar in Ireland, Bobby is joined by three people working across the industry: ● Morgan Pierce, CEO of Solar Smart ● Declan Cullinane as Managing Director, Amarenco Ireland ● Justin Brown, CEO & Co-Founder of Power Capital Renewable Energy

Joining Bobby in the executive chair this week is Diarmuid O'Brien, CEO of Research Ireland.

Joining Bobby to go through the main business stories from the Saturday papers is Susan HayesCulleton. Presenter of Taking Stock here on Newstalk &Ciaran Hancock, Business Editor of The Irish Times.

10 years ago Bobby interviewed a man called Emmet Savage, who was building a subscription service for stock recommendations. After a decade, and a few brand transformations, the company, now called MyWallSt, has finally taken off. Emmet joins Bobby to discuss.

Bobby popped out to Dunboyne in Co. Meath to check out a company providing modular solutions for new builds - Steel Frames Direct Ireland.

Wages are rising, unemployment is relatively low, lots of people are making Ireland home, and tax receipts are buoyant thanks to our US cousins who manufacture or headquarter here. What could possibly go wrong? One person who thinks things aren't as rosy, is economist and columnist with The Sunday Times, Cormac Lucey. He joins Bobby to discuss.

As it's agricultural show season, Bobby takes a trip to Tipperary to visit Clonmel Show 2026.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Professor Nicola Ralph, Consultant Dermatologist and Co-founder of the Institute of Dermatologists, Surgical Institute Dublin and ID Formulas & Professor Caitriona Ryan, Consultant Dermatologist and Co-Founder at Institute of Dermatologists, ID formulas, and Surgical Institute Dublin and a Clinical Professor at University College Dublin.

Food trucks have become a major part of Ireland's food scene, bringing everything from gourmet burgers and wood-fired pizza to seafood, Asian cuisine, and locally sourced produce directly to customers. But behind the popularity of the movement is a challenging business model, with rising costs, licensing issues, competition, and the ongoing struggle to find suitable locations. Today, Bobby looks at the opportunities and obstacles facing food truck operators in Ireland with:Kwanghi Chan, Bites by KwanghiJulia Hemingway, Julia's Lobster TruckNathan Diamond of Ginger's BBQ

Joining Bobby to go through the main business stories from the Saturday papers is Ciara McDonagh of Healy Communications & communication consultant Doug Keatinge.

Sarah Stone McDevitt was made to sit at the back of the class when she was a child in school due to her dyslexia but this experience helped her on the road to writing her book ‘The Round Table- How Relational Intelligence Will Become Your Human Advantage in the AI Age'. She joins Bobby to discuss.

Joining Bobby to go through the main business stories from the Saturday papers is journalist and author, Valerie Cox & Deputy Business Editor of the Sunday Times Ireland, Jon Ihle.

For this week's Industry Review we look at the stock market - what it actually is, what drives it up and down, and why it matters even if you've never bought a share in your life. From interest rates and inflation to global tech giants and pension funds, we'll unpack how money really moves through the system and who is making the big decisions behind the scenes. Joining Bobby to make sense of it all are three experts with very different perspectives on how markets work today. Rory GIllen, Investment Strategist at Quilter CheviotAidan Donnelly, Head of Global Equities at DavyKathryn Hannon, Investment Manager with RBC Brewin Dolphin

Joining Bobby in the executive chair this week is Tony Lanigan, MD of Creative Technology Ireland.

Andy Burnham is expected to become Labour leader at a special conference on July 17th and hence the Prime Minister. One of his plans is to have a Number 10 in the North and he's attempting what's being called ‘ Manchesterism” that attempts to rid England of the North South divide - but is that possible? Political Economist Will Hutton joins Bobby to discuss.

ApexGolf is your personal AI coach for golf and fitness - helping you train smarter, move better, and lower your scores. Bobby speaks to its creator, Barry Moroney to find out more.

Paul English is a serial tech entrepreneur best known as the co-founder and former CTO of Kayak.com. He is also the author of The Meeting Book: How the Best Companies Meet Better, which outlines his strategies for cutting out wasteful corporate meetings and improving decision-making. He joins Bobby to talk about his life in business, philanthropy, and more.

Bobby continues his chat with some of Kilkenny's movers and shakers in the business world as part of Newstalk's 2026 Summer Tour with Peter McCreery, Managing Director at Sherry Fitzgerald McCreery; Edward Hayden, Chef and owner of Edward Hayden School of Cookery; and Naoise Nunn, festival creator, producer, and co-director at Schweppe Curtis Nunn.

Joining Bobby to go through the main stories from the Saturday papers is Eimear Ní Bhraonain, author of ‘The Dodger: DJ Carey and the Great Betrayal' and owner of communications firm Eimear.ie & Claire McInerney Brown, President of Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce and export development consultant at Suas Mane consulting.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Paul Young, CEO of Cartoon Saloon.

Joining Bobby to chat about the health of local tourism in Kilkenny as part of Newstalk's 2026 Summer Tour is Sheena Dignam, founder and owner of Kilkenny and Galway Food Tours; Colin Ahern, GM on the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel and co Chair of Kilkenny DEDP (Destination Experience Development Plan); and Anthony Morrison, owner of Christy's Bar and former chair of the Vinters Federation of Kilkenny.

This week, Down to Business was coming to you live from the River Court Hotel in Kilkenny as part of Newstalk's 2026 Summer Tour, all with thanks to ESB - Ireland's largest EV charging network. There, we heard from local band Lincoln Skins as well as Anthony Smith, General Manager at the Kilkenny River Court Hotel to chat about how the hotel is faring in 2026, tourism numbers, and more.

This week, Down to Business was coming to you live from the River Court Hotel in Kilkenny as part of Newstalk's 2026 Summer Tour, all with thanks to ESB - Ireland's largest EV charging network. There, he had the chance to chat with Kilkenny hurling legend, T.J.Reid.

Bobby was out & about again this week at Druid Padel in Kimmage to find out why padel has become the fastest-growing sport in the world, and why it's taking off in Ireland.

Next Tuesday marks 10 years since the UK voted to leave the EU. Bobby is joined by award-winning journalist and author of A History of Brexit in 256 Disasters, Jonty Bloom, to look back at the morning after the result, the immediate shock in markets, and why he wasn't surprised by the vote.

Rising costs, higher interest rates, and continued uncertainty are putting fresh pressure on Irish farming - but what does the outlook really look like in 2026?Bobby is joined by Eoin Lowry, Head of Agri at Bank of Ireland to discuss.

This week's Industry Review on Down to Business, Bobby digs into the world of the garden centre - the, "one-stop shops" behind one of the nation's favourite pastimes.Oliver Schurmann, Owner of Mount Venus Nursery LtdBarry Doyle, CEO of ArboretumPaul Harvey, of Windyridge Garden Centre

Joining Bobby to go through some of the main business stories from the week is Bob Hoffman Managing Partner Vista Executive Search & Gina London Sunday Independent Columnist and Communications expert.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Stephen O'Malley, CEO & Co Founder of Civic.

Joining Bobby to go through the main business stories from the Saturday papers is Linda Daly, business reporter with the Sunday Times, and Stephen O'Leary, founder of Olytico.

Bobby was joined by Conor Galvin, CEO of Ornua, in the Executive Chair this week.

For this weeks' Industry Review, Bobby will be taking a look at the EV market.With Ireland having set the ambitious goal of 845,000 EVs on the road by 2030, the question remains, is this possible?Joining Bobby was Conor Faughnan, Independent Motoring Expert with Carzone, Derek Reilly, General Manager at Nevo.ie, and Brian Cooke, Director General of SIMI.

The founder of Hildun Beauty and winner of Arnott's Pitch 2025 competition, Suzy Griffin Dunne, joins Bobby to discuss her business.

With the business world changing quickly, we talk to Mike Soutar, one of Lord Sugar's trusted advisors on The Apprentice, on his new book 'Next Gen CEO'.

The European Central Bank has raised its interest rates for the first time in almost three years.To find out more Bobby's joined by economist Jim Power.

Bobby was out & about in Dún Laoghaire, discussing a sport near and dear to his heart, sailing.

The quest for love seems to be an eternal one, but the business of helping others find it is more contemporary.As disillusionment in dating apps, speed dating, and social media rises and AI poses new challenges, matchmaking is ready to become mainstream again.Joining Emmet Oliver to discuss the industry's rebirth was Feargal Harrington, MD & Co-Founder of Intro Matchmaking, Sharon Kenny and The Matchmaker, Jennifer Haskins, Two's Company Dating Agency

Emmet, in for Bobby, was joined in the Executive Chair this week by Zoe Kavanagh, Repak CEO.

We take our connected lifestyle for granted these days. The shiny bells and whistles websites may look easy to navigate, but how accessible are they if you have any form of disability?My next guest has personal experience of living with a disability. He is also the founder and CEO of a company that offers clients solutions to make their websites accessible to over one billion potential customers worldwide who have a disability.Kyran Mahoney is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Nexus Inclusion, and he joined Emmet Oliver to discuss his company.

We have spoken about what makes a great workplace many times here on Down to Business.My next guest believes a happy and safe workplace is crucial for recruiting, nourishing and retaining employees. It will also help with your bottom line.Dr Audrey Tang Chartered Psychologist joined Emmet Oliver to discuss

Ireland's tax revenues continue to surge, driven largely by a small number of US tech and pharmaceutical giants.But with Brussels warning about over-reliance on multinational corporation tax, unemployment beginning to tick upwards, and growing uncertainty around US trade and tax policy, questions are being asked about how resilient Ireland's economic model really is. Emmet Oliver was joined by Cliff Taylor, Managing Editor of the Irish Times, to discuss